Woodside School

This school, located in Oatlands Avenue, was a mixed boarding school and therefore relatively unusual for the time, particularly in view of its small size.

It first appears in the1891 sensus as being in "Duchess Road" which was what Oatlands Avenue was called at that time, although we can find no clear indication that it was ever named "officially" until it became Oatlands Avenue. Ada Slade, aged 29, ws shown as being "Principal of Prep School" and her younger sister, Kate O Slade was listed as "Kinder Garted Governess"[sic] with Ellen Becker, shown as "Music and Assistant Governess", completig the teaching line-iup. There were a total of four pupils, one girl and four boys - amongst whom was Percival C A Slade, aged eleven - we have yet to work out what relation he was, if any, to Ada - and Emma M Brown was shown as "General Domestic Servant".

1891 Census - Crown Copyright

In the 1901 census, the school was was shown located in "America" (the name for Oatlands Avenue at that time - although it was sometimes show as "America Road"), with Ada Slade listed as "Lady Principal". Ada's teaching staff now consisted of her younger sister Clara Jame and Kate Hathaway, while her elder sister Caroline is shown as "Housekeeper". Kate Octavia Slade had married Arthur Henry Moore in 1893 and had moved to Wiltshire. There were five boarding pupils - 4 boys and one girl - and two "Maid Servants".

1901 Census - Crown Copyright

In the 1911 census, Ada was still running the school but her sisters were no longer there. Laura Roberts was then listed at "School Mistress" and there were three 17 year-old "Pupil Governesses". Pupil numbers had increased and there were fourteen boarding pupils listed, nine girls (7-15) and five boys (7-10) but there were no domestic staff shown so it is reasonable that they 'came in from outside'.

The 1911 census for Woodside School runs over two pages and is too large to include here as an image.

The school is listed in Kelly's Directory of Surrey for 1918 with Ada Slade's name against it.

We will add to this page as mor information becomes available.

Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO