Candlebury

Little Tallowmere schoolroom

Miss Ansty’s schoolroom, with a lime tree outside and a lantern show after lessons.

The schoolroom looks onto a yard with a lime tree. Desks, a clock and a cupboard of exercise books, spare slates and saved lengths of string make up its familiar working life. There is one comfortable chair, which Miss Ansty moves into the middle of the floor.

Mr Corvill arrives in Little Tallowmere a day before his public lantern show. Miss Ansty lends him the room to try his coloured slides, and stays to watch. The travelling lantern stands on the teacher’s desk; a white sheet brings Venice, a harbour, a mountain road and a market into the evening.

People connected with this place

  • Miss Ansty

    For one evening, nobody is waiting for her to tick an answer.

  • Mr Corvill

    A travelling lantern showman, a day early and a little doubtful about Venice.

The schoolhouse at night, with warm windows and a small gate beneath the tree.Look closer at the illustration ↗
Little Tallowmere schoolhouse, from The Lantern Show.

Inside

Miss Ansty and Mr Corvill inside the schoolroom.
Miss Ansty and Mr Corvill inside the schoolroom.

Stories