A delicate and faded sampler was given to St Mary’s by Ruth Buckeridge, sister of Agnes, the girl who made it when she was a pupil at the school. It is possible to make out the writing as:
|
Agnes Buckeridge 1891 Aged 10 St Mary’s School Calne Do not look upon the vessel but upon that which it contains |
Agnes, known as Aggie, was born on 28th June 1880, daughter of Albert and Agnes Buckeridge. An ancestor, John Buckeridge, had been a bishop in the 17th century and a chaplain to King James I. The family had a grocery and wine and spirit business in the centre of Calne and lived in a house adjacent to the shop. In later years St Mary’s rented this house from Agnes Buckeridge as a boarding house before buying it.
Agnes had three sisters, two of whom were at school with her at St Mary’s, as were her four brothers for their early years. Her father was one of St Mary’s earliest trustees. Agnes later emigrated to Australia with her husband and their son, who became Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth and was knighted by the Queen. Agnes died in 1965.
This photo shows St Mary's in 1889, soon after Miss Dyas became Headmistress. Agnes Buckeridge is on the front row.