Page 201 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

224.

MI L L F I E L D S C H 0 0 L

($200.00) was supposed to be paid by the local residents. The local people
only managed to supply £70.0.0. ($140.00) and upon request the Council of Educatio~
agreed to pay a further £20.0.0. ($40.00). The balance of £10.13.6. ($21.36)
was paid by the local School Board which consisted of Alexander Crothers - Miller;
James Howell - Farmer; and Joseph Woodlands - Storekeeper. This building was
an old Inn which stood in a seven acre paddock. The classroom was twenty six
(26) feet by fifteen (15) feet and was probably the bar. The balance of the
Inn was used as the teacher's residence.

Early in 1877, the Millfield local School Board considered the residence
to be in a very poor state of repair. Joseph Woodlands, Secretary, wrote on
behalf of his fellow members James Howell and John Cody, to the Council of
Education, giving this description:-

" .......... the old kitchen, which is now ruinous,
very much out of the perpendicular and dangerous
to the pupils. It should be propped up to prevent
it from falling".

Following this letter, Inspector J.S. Jones visited the Millfield school and
residence. He recommended that the kitchen be rebuilt. When tenders were
called the successful contractor was William Taylor of Millfield with his price
of £112.0.0. ($224.00). The new kitchen was completed in December 1877.

The Millfield school building caught fire in the early hours of 15th
July 1882. Just before 6.00 a.m. the teacher, Alexander Maconochil Wellwood
sent to the neighbouring mill for help. With this promptness of alarm and the
assistance and energy of his neighbours, Messrs. Hinchcliff, Campbell, Taylor,
Woodlands, Hewitt, Caban and Thornton, the fire was quickly brought under control.
The teacher's report outlined that the schoolhouse and combined residence were
of wooden structure, lined with cedar. The building had been an old inn and
was at this date, almost forty (40) years old. It had seven (71 rooms and a
detached kitchen. The classroom was thought to be the old bar-room or tap-roo~.
The teacher advised that due to the cold winter weather the fire had been 'banked'
and it would appear that the seat of the fire was under the hearth and had caught