Harry Crumbleholme  1873 - 1959

Birth & Early Life :

Henry George Crumbleholme [Cro0248] was born on 28th August 1873, at 8 Lower Bond Street, Weymouth, Dorset, the eldest son of Richard Crumbleholme [Cro0245] & Maria (nee Hunt) [Cro0246].

Known as Harry, he attended St Marys School in Weymouth and later served there as a pupil teacher. He was a good musician having been taught by Henry Hurdell LRAM (a cousin of his mothers ?) who was organist and choirmaster at St Marys Church in Weymouth.

He attended Saltley College (nr Birmingham) to train as a teacher. His first post was at Merton School in South Wimbledon, London (from c 1894). Whilst here, he was in the choir of St Nicholas Church in Tooting.  (Source : Notes given to me RC by Harry's daughter Louie)

St Leonard's School, Streatham, London.

1900 - Harry Crumbleholme [248] is appointed Headmaster of St Leonard's School, Streatham, London (aged 27). He succeeded Arthur Ward as Headmaster of the Boy's School. One of the first things that Harry Crumbleholme did was to introduce an Attendance Shield which was awarded each week to the class with most boys present and not late ! 

1904 : The School Inspector reported that under Mr Crumbleholme's headship the school was ..."a very efficient school in all respects. The boys are regular and punctual in attendance, keen at their work and well behaved. Good methods of teaching, diligently carried out, secure admirable progress"

1907 - May : Empire Day was celebrated for the first time with decorations in the school and the Headmaster explaining the day but expected the children to write a composition about it afterwards !

1908 - The boys had to move to temporary premises in the GPO sorting office in Shrubbery Road to allow the Girl's School to be enlarged. The school was reopened in March 1909. The school was heated by open coal fires in each classroom and had outside toilets.

1914 - 1918 : The First World War caused many problems for the school with staff and coal shortages. For a short time, all departments of the school worked double sessions to conserve fuel. There were night air raids and attendances suffered. These raids were made by German Zeppelin airships and the worst was during Saturday 23rd September 1916 when Zeppelin L31dropped many bombs on the area killing 7 people and injuring another 27. (Source : The Streatham Society website - article 23/9/2020) 

1923 : Sarah Yeoman, the headmistress of the Girl's School retired and Harry Crumbleholme took control of both schools in addition to teaching a class himself. In the 1930's class sizes often exceeded 40 with only 6 or 7 teachers. 

1930 : Harry Crumbleholme introduced the school badge  (still in use I think ?) (see below)

1933 : Harry Crumbleholme retired aged 60. His wife had died in 1930 and he moved with his daughter back to his home town of Weymouth in Dorset (see newspaper report below).

Source : Having contacted the present school via their website in January 2022, the Headteacher Simon Jackson, very kindly emailed straight back and also sent me a copy of "St Leonard's Church of England Primary School - A proud Heritage 1813-2013" compiled by Tony Pizzoferro and John W Brown published by the Streatham Society in 2013. I have taken information from this book together with the images of the school shield and badge above.

The photographs above and below are from an excellent website  http://www.14november1940.com/names/smith/q41/q41stleonards.html

(Malcolm Smith Family History Archives). I contacted the author to confirm that Harry is on the left of the photograph with his wife on the right hand side. The above website gives more information about Harry and his school. His fellow teacher shown in the photograph is Thomas Smith ?? who taught at the school for some 40 years. Harry's signature was taken from a teaching book in the possession of Thomas Smith.

The website also relates recollections from his pupils : .....The headmaster at that time, Mr Crombleholme, a strict but fair man of the old school of head teachers. My most clear memory of him was that he wore a winged collar, something I was unfamiliar with, and somewhat dated.

Marriage :

1901 : Harry married Emily Grace (nee Ashford) [Cro0824] in Mitcham in Surrey in October 1901 (full details req'd). Witnesses were Lucy Anne Elliott and William Arthur Hope.  Emily (nee Ashford) [824] was the daughter of Walter Ashford (1833-1927) and Emily Jane (nee Greenhill) (1849-   ). She died in September 1930 in Streatham. 

1905 : Harry's (only child) daughter Louisa Grace (known as Louie) [Cro0253] was born on 9th July 1905. She was baptised on 10th September 1905 at St Albans, Streatham with her father noted as school master living at the same address as recorded in the 1911 census below.

1911 Census : The family is recorded in the 1911 Census as living at 22 Corsehill Street, Streatham in the parish of Wandsworth, London. Harry's occupation is given as Head Teacher aged 37 with his wife aged 32 and his daughter Louisa 5 years old. Note : See map and street view of this house above - it was quite close to his school. 

1912 : Henry (Harry) Crumbleholme [Cro0248] listed as owner of land in Spa Road, Weymouth. His London address is given as : 22 Corsehill Street, Streatham. (Source : Electoral Register Southern (1839-1922) Parish of Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset  north side entry 38)

(Source : Letters to RC from Harry's daughter Louie Crumbleholme.) 

As noted in the account above, Harry Crumbleholme [Cro0248] was also a very active Freemason. He was originally encouraged by his first head teacher, a Mr Pillinger, at Merton School in London and became a freemason aged 22 years in 1896. He is recorded as a member of the Burgoyne Lodge (No 902)  from 1910. He inaugurated several lodges and held high rank both in London and later in during his retirement in his home town of Weymouth in Dorset.  (Source : Freemasonry Membership Registers C201-813 to London D 820-1261 Reel No 33;  Library & Museum of Freemasonry London)

1938 - 27th May : Western Gazette records Harry Crumbleholme [Cro0248] at the funeral of Col G P Symes as ......H.Crumbleholme (Supreme Grand Chapter of England : is the governing body of Royal Arch Masons in England, Wales and the Channel Islands.  Its headquarters are at Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London)