Basingstoke Education 1871-1902

This period saw increasing numbers of children requiring education in Basingstoke and a constant struggle to supply sufficient places. Various independent day and boarding schools were run in the town and a Roman Catholic elementary school existed from 1880 to 1897. A Sunday school raised by subscriptions, became a day school and in spite of inadequate National and British schools the ratepayers of the town resisted the formation of a School Board until 1885 after which the Fairfields Board Schools were built and opened in 1888.  Parts of these premises still operate as a primary school.