Bury St Edmunds school Guildhall Feoffment Primary appeals for old photos, articles and memories to mark 180th anniversary

A primary school that is this year marking its 180th anniversary is appealing for people to come forward with old articles and photos or their memories for the celebration.

Guildhall Feoffment Primary School in Bury St Edmunds opened on Monday July 3, 1843, as the Guildhall Feoffment Poor Boys School.

The school was built on land owned by, and with the money provided by, the Guildhall Feoffment Trust, which was founded under the terms of the will of Jankyn Smythe, a 15th-century wealthy merchant of the town.

Donna Hazell, a teaching assistant at the school and also a former pupil, is organising an event, planned for July 1, to celebrate the 180th anniversary.

She would like people to get in contact with old articles and photographs of the school, as well as their favourite memories written down.

She said: “We are really trying to focus on trying to bring the community together, and I don’t know if it’s the oldest school, but it’s definitely one of the oldest schools in Bury.

“There’s so much history to the school and where it is, placed right in the centre of town. It’s wonderful to celebrate what we have achieved in school and the fact the school is still here.

“We are a small school, but we are moving along with what we need to for school; we have gained Years 5 and 6.

“And we have to use the community resources around us as our site is small. We don’t have the playing fields and a lot of the space other schools have so we have to use resources in the community, so we would like to celebrate with the community.”

For the event on July 1, the school will be opened up for members of the community and school community past and present.

-To send old articles, photos and memories of the school email donna.hazell@guildhallfeoffment.suffolk.sch.uk by Friday, May 26.