Miss Minnie Odell – Recollections of Pirton Life
Interviewed: 28 September 1984 Age: 84
Address: 9 The Bury, Pirton
Mother: Elizabeth Odell
Miss Minnie Odell was born at The Bury in Pirton and lived there all her life, except for a short time after the war when she had to leave because of bomb damage. She remembered her school days vividly, though not always fondly.
Her first teacher, Mrs Donson, she recalled as unkind and having clear favourites among the children. Mrs Donson “didn’t hesitate to clout the children,” Minnie said. Lessons for the youngest pupils consisted of nursery rhymes, simple stories, the alphabet, and counting. Each afternoon they were made to rest with their heads on their desks to go to sleep.
The children used slates for reading, writing, and arithmetic, and there were yearly examinations. Every morning began with a Bible story, followed by prayers and a hymn. Minnie preferred Mr Donson, the headmaster, though he was strict—especially with the boys. All of his daughters went on to the Grammar School.
Girls were taught sewing and knitting. They began by practising without wool, learning the movements of “needle in, wool round” until they were confident enough to use real yarn. They made socks, scarves, pinafores, and chemises. In Mr Donson’s class they also did painting, fetching water from a well at the back of the school.
Everyone dreaded the visits of the HMI (Her Majesty’s Inspector), in case they could not answer his questions. Minnie remembered one girl who could answer everything so well that the inspector went to see her mother and arranged for her to attend a college at Sawbridgeworth.
The policeman’s daughters, the Stewarts, got on particularly well with Mr Donson. Minnie also remembered the generosity of the people at Pirton Hall, who gave a lovely tea at the school—“I can see the iced buns now,” she said—with a magic lantern show afterwards. The Chapel treat was held in Mr Davis’s meadow, and the Church treat in Franklin’s meadow.
School, she said, was very crowded, and the children had to sit perfectly still. “I hated school,” she admitted, “but it was the happiest time because you had no worries, you see.”
After leaving school, Minnie went to work at the Glove Factory. She later spent sixteen years working at Docwra Manor and then seventeen years at Highdown, where she cared for the youngest boy of the family from the age of three.
the glove factory on Hitchin road.
Having lived her entire life in Pirton, Miss Odell’s memories offer a glimpse into the rhythms of village life and the schooling of children in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries—a mixture of strict discipline, community events, and simple pleasures that remained vivid to her even in her eighties.
Joan’s notes Interviewed 28/9/84
Miss Minnie Odell, aged 84 – 9 The Bury (born there, lived there ever since except for several months after the bomb).
(Father :
Mother: Elizabeth Odell)
Did not like Mrs Donson at all – she wasn’t kind, and had favourites. Didn’t hesitate to clout the children.
Babies – rhymes, stories, ABC, counting. Every afternoon head on desk to go to sleep.
Slates – reading/writing/arithmetic – exams every year. Bible story, prayer, hymn every morning.
Got on better with Mr Donson, but he was tough with the boys. All his daughters went to Grammar School.
Sewing and knitting. (Knitting without wool – needle in, wool round etc. – until you knew how to do it). Socks, scarves. Pinafores, chemises
In his class there was painting. There was a well at the back for water.
Everyone dreaded the HMI in case they couldn’t answer. There was a girl who could answer every question – the HMI went to see her mother and arranged for her to go to a College at Sawbridgeworth.
Policeman’s daughters (Stewarts) got on well with Mr D.
The people at Pirton Hall gave a lovely tea at the school. “I can see the iced buns now” and afterwards a magic lantern entertainment.
Chapel treat was held in Mr Davis’ meadow and the Church one in Franklin’s meadow.
School was very crowded – you had to sit still
“I hated school” but “it was happiest time because you had no worries you see.”
Went to Glove Factory, then to Docwra Manor for 16 years and then to Highdown for 17 years (looked after youngest boy from 3)
