Image, Laura & Paul Jewill Hill, by Harold Harvey (1874 – 1941), Penlee House Gallery & Museum
laura jewell hill
Education & Learning,
1907 – 2004
Suggested by Judy Goodlet
Judy writes,
“Laura Jewill Hill, born in Penzance in the 1900s, became a compassionate educator and headmistress of 5 different schools, most notably Rosa Bassett grammar school for girls in Stockwell, London, a pioneering school of its time. Its founding headmistress introduced the Dalton Plan, a radical new system of education developed in the USA which moved away from traditional, rigid, class-based teaching, allowing the process to be adjusted to the pace of each individual child.
Laura left Penzance for work, but always returned, finally retiring to her family home in Polwithen Road. She was a passionate supporter of the Morrab Library and Penlee House where you can see this portrait of her as a girl with her brother. After retirement she raised money for charity, always baking and giving talks on a variety of subjects.
Laura was my father’s cousin. In her early 70s the loss of family and friends meant she sought us out. My husband, two children and I, visited and had adventures with her for many years. She would tell us about holidaying in Isles of Scilly, going by horse and cart to Sennen to sail across. Laura had an open heart and an open mind. The first time we visited she had just ordered Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses from America before it was available here to understand the commotion about it. If Laura heard a young person had been arrested she would ring the police station to ensure they were being treated appropriately.”
Image, Laura & Paul Jewill Hill, by Harold Harvey (1874 – 1941), Penlee House Gallery & Museum, commissioned by James Jewill Hill. “Laura recalled getting extremely tired and uncomfortable standing on one leg.”