The Old Statistical Account of Falkirk in 1797 states that in Laurieston
“Lord Dundas of Aske gives… a dwelling house and school-room, but not any salary.”
By the time of the 1845 Statistical Account things had changed:
“At Laurieston, the teacher has a school and dwelling-house, besides £5 5s of yearly salary from the Earl of Zetland. For the common branches of education, the fees are from 2s 6d to 4s per quarter. Where the higher branches, such as geography, navigation, and surveying, and mensuration are taught, the fees are 7s 6d and 10s 6d per quarter.”
The Laurieston or Zetland School taught by William Geddes was examined by a Committee of Presbytery in 1859 and the scholars’ knowledge of writing, arithmetic and geography was tested. Of the 121 pupils on the roll, 88 were present. School outings to the Free Gardeners’ grounds were popular. Contemporary with this was the description given by the Ordnance Surveyors:
“A schoolhouse one storey high, slated and in good repair. The Earl of Zetland contributes £10 per annum, the remainder of the teacher’s salary is made up from school fees. Average number of scholars 110, about half of which are females. The usual branches of an English education are taught.” (Ordnance Survey Name Book).
Despite the apparent success, an inspection by the newly formed Falkirk Parish School Board in 1873 showed that the school building was in a poor condition and only capable of accommodating 56 children, whereas the census showed a requirement to provide for 200. Inevitably it was decided to close the school once a new one had been built and it formally did so on 11 November 1876. William Geddes had taught at Carron before moving to Laurieston and was presented with a purse of sovereign, subscribed by some of his old pupils and friends, upon his retirement. Still needing to work, he became a postman and the parochial board officer. His son was the first policeman in the village. The old school building was then used as a village hall, known as the Zetland Hall, and as the place where feu duties were collected.
| Year Arrived | Headteacher | Year Left | No. Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1836 | John Hardie | ||
| 1855 | William Fyffe Geddes | 1876 | |
| Closed down |
Sites and Monuments Record
| Zetland School, Laurieston | SMR 2318 | NS 9100 7951 |
Falkirk Local History Society 