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20. The Church Hall
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| Originally an agricultural building, it was a wheelwright's shop in the 1830s when, by the initiative of the vicar, it was converted to house a parish school in 1838. (In the same year, the horsechestnut tree outside the church was planted.) In 1854, it was enlarged for an Infants' department and, at the south end, enlarged again by 1875 to include a village reading room and smoking room – anything to get the labourers out of the pub. The school log 1863-1908 (Bodleian Library) shows much truancy as children had to help their families by working; every summer, boys worked on the cricket fields. Oxford photographer Henry Taunt immortalized the children's May Day celebrations 100 years ago. The school closed in 1961, when the school on the nearby Rose Hill Estate made it redundant. The building became the Church Hall and is now (2000) let to a Montessori Nursery on weekdays. |
 Iffley Church Hall © John Perrott |
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Iffley School
Bell, ©Toni Perrott
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 Bazaar in Church Hall, 2001 |
