I did a little more digging into The Royal Naval Female School which was founded in 1840 on Richmond Green as a boarding school for the orphaned daughters of Navy officers. In 1857 it moved to St Margaret’s House, between the Thames and Kilmorey Road, which was then part of Isleworth. In 1941, St Margaret’s House was damaged by bombing and the school moved to Haslemere. In 1995 it merged with the Grove School and became the Royal School, catering for girls and boys.
I found Blanche Young was a scholar there from the 1871 census. The school was founded to educate the daughters of Naval officers to earn a living. Blanche Youngs’ father had died in 1861 when she was only 5 years old. She had an older brother and sister as well as a younger sister. I wonder how her mother felt at sending her away from home?
At the time of the 1871 census The Royal Naval Female School was based at St Margaret’s House, between the Thames and Kilmorey Road. I had a look on Google Streetview but today there are only modern buildings there now.
I checked to see if her perhaps brother had been sent to The Naval School for Boys as I have been unable to find him on the 1871 census, but sadly he wasn’t there.
Hounslow Local Studies Service holds a register of subscriptions and fees (1868-1875), as well as other information relating to the school. Something else added to my do list for a rainy day 🙂
