Jam City: Moor Row School

Nestled in the heart of West Cumbria, the village of Moor Row boasts a history intrinsically linked to the industrial boom of the 19th century.

Like many communities in this corner of the UK, its primary school - Moor Row Community Primary School - stands as a testament to the village's enduring spirit and commitment to education.

The Birth of a Village
To understand the school, you must first appreciate the village that created it.

Moor Row, originally known by names like Low Keekle and Scalegill, exploded in size following the mid-1800s discovery of rich iron ore deposits.

The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway, which arrived in 1855, made Moor Row a vital junction for transporting ore.

The demand for workers brought an influx of people from all over, including Cornish tin miners, whose legacy lives on in street names like Penzance Street.

This rapid expansion of a 'row of houses on a moor' soon created an urgent need for local infrastructure, chief among which was a school for the children of the new railway workers and miners.

A Pillar of the Community 
Though the exact date of its founding is not detailed in readily available records, the school emerged during the period when schools, established under the Education Act of 1870 and later the Education Act of 1902, became commonplace across the country.

These institutions were essential in providing elementary education to the working-class families that powered the Cumbrian industrial machine. Historical records mention the presence of a school from early on:
  • Moor Row Council School Roll of Honour: A poignant document held at the school is the Roll of Honour for the First World War. This illuminated calligraphy lists the names of 134 "Old Boys" from the Moor Row Council School who served in the European War, with twenty-two making the ultimate sacrifice. The mention of the headmaster of Moor Row Primary School, Mr. H. A. Bonney, B.A., attending the unveiling of the village's main War Memorial in 1921 further solidifies the school's long-standing role at the centre of village life. The school, initially a "Council School" (a non-denominational, state-funded school), has consistently served the local communities of Moor Row, Bigrigg, and Woodend.
  • A Name that Sticks: 'Jam City' In the mid-20th century, Moor Row gained an affectionate, quirky nickname that even today evokes smiles: 'Jam City'. Legend has it that in the 1950s, the children of Moor Row salvaged more jam jars than any other village in the country during a national collection drive! This feat of community effort and youthful enthusiasm briefly put Moor Row on the national map and highlights the strong community spirit that the school has always been a part of.
Moor Row Today
Today, Moor Row Community Primary School is a thriving establishment, known for its dedication to core values: Manners, Respect, and Success.

While the Montreal Mines and the busy shunting yard are long gone, replaced by modern employers like the nearby Westlakes Science and Technology Park and Sellafield, the school remains a vital hub.

From teaching the children of iron ore miners to preparing young minds for the 21st century, Moor Row School has been a constant, stable presence, mirroring the journey of the community it serves. It truly is a place of 'Learning for Life' in the heart of West Cumbria.

Moor Row School Illustration
Moor Row School Illustration
Location: Moor Row CA24, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Comments are welcome. Spam will not be tolerated. Strictly no advertising.

MOST READ

About Moor Row

Image
Hello, and welcome. This site is about the village of Moor Row in West Cumbria. The history of Moor Row is one intrinsically linked to the industrial boom that transformed West Cumbria. While the area's roots stretch back to before 1762, when the homesteads of Low Moor Row and High Moor Row dotted the landscape between Summerhill Mansion and Woodend with Cleator, the true genesis of the modern village lies in iron ore and the mighty railway.  From Homestead to Hub The early landscape was characterised by family landholdings, such as the estate of the Wildridge family at Low Moor Row, located on what would become Church Street. The marriage of Elizabeth Wildridge to the local gardener, Dalzell, and his subsequent inheritance of the estates, is a pivotal local event. This link is preserved today, not just through family lore but in the village's street names, a testament to the enduring influence of the early landowners. The Railway Catalyst The mid-19th century witnessed an expl...
Read more

Beneath the Surface: The Forgotten Iron Giant

Image
If you were to walk through the quiet streets of Moor Row today, you might find it hard to believe that this West Cumbrian village was once the beating heart of a massive industrial operation. Beneath the modern pavement and suburban gardens lies the legacy of the Montreal Mines - an enterprise that once rivalled the giants of the industry. While the mine closed in the 1920s, its footprint remains massive, fascinating, and occasionally dangerous. Let’s dig into the history of the Montreal Mines.  An Industrial Powerhouse At its peak, the Montreal Mines were nothing short of a colossus in the iron ore industry.  Producing an impressive 250,000 tons of ore a year, it was the most productive mine in the entire Whitehaven or Furness district, second only to the legendary Hodbarrow mine. The scale of the operation was immense: The Land : The property covered 1,000 acres, with half of that land being rich in iron ore. The Workforce : It wasn't just machines; it was men. Between 1,00...
Read more

Moor Row's Enduring Spirit: A Legacy of Sacrifice in Two World Wars

Image
Nestled in the heart of West Cumbria, the seemingly quiet village of Moor Row holds a history far richer and more poignant than its present-day tranquility might suggest. Like countless communities across the United Kingdom, Moor Row played its part in the monumental struggles of the two World Wars, contributing its sons and daughters to the fight for freedom and peace. The echoes of their sacrifice still resonate today, etched into the very fabric of the village, most notably in the solemn presence of its War Memorial. The Great War : A Village Answers the Call When the call to arms came in 1914, Moor Row, then a bustling mining community, responded with unwavering resolve. Young men, many working in the local pits or related industries, swapped their tools for rifles and their civilian clothes for military uniforms.  Families bid tearful goodbyes, understanding the gravity of the situation but perhaps not fully comprehending the immense scale of the conflict that lay ahead. The t...
Read more

The Village: History, Growth, and Erosion of Amenities

Image
The village of Moor Row, a residential community between Whitehaven and Egremont on the Cumbrian coastal plain, essentially owes its existence to the 19th-century iron ore boom.  Originally known by various names, including Low Keekle and Moor Row Junction, the community expanded rapidly from what was initially just a scattering of homesteads.  Founding Streets and Industrial Heritage The village name itself probably refers to the houses on Scalegill Street (or Scalegill Road), which were noted on the 1860 Ordnance Survey map and represent some of the original development. The definitive oldest terraced housing, however, is believed to be the row of two-up, two-down cottages built in 1859 on Dalzell Street. This street is particularly significant, named after the prominent Dalzell family, who owned parcels of land in the area and were connected to the local gentry and mine owners (specifically Thomas Henry Dalzell). Another street, Penzance Street, directly reflects the large-...
Read more

Moor Row: Starting the Adventure on Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk

Image
The Coast to Coast (C2C) walk is one of the UK’s most celebrated long-distance paths, the brainchild of the legendary fellwalker and writer, Alfred Wainwright. Spanning approximately 190 miles from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, it’s a trek filled with breathtaking landscapes, from the craggy peaks of the Lake District to the gentle undulations of the Yorkshire Wolds. But every epic journey must begin somewhere, and for the traditional western start, that place is usually the unassuming Cumbrian village of St Bees. Yet, the very first few miles - the section that takes you inland from the sea - often involves a necessary, but perhaps less-glamorous, stretch that takes you right through the former mining village of Moor Row. The Start : After dipping your boots in the Irish Sea at St Bees and picking up a pebble to carry to Robin Hood’s Bay (a lovely tradition!), the walk begins with a stunning, clifftop amble. The first sight of the coastline and the distant Isle of Man on a clear day...
Read more