Although national government did nothing to promote the growth of elementary education, it could not ignore the developments that were taking place. It has been shown that a fair proportion of parishes had some form of educational charity by the early nineteenth century. The Sunday school movement was gathering momentum, and the National and British societies were extending their influence as the schools affiliated to them began to grow. Some members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords were actively engaged in what was happening, others were disturbed by it. It is not perhaps surprising, therefore, that there should be a Select Committee to enquire into educational provision for the poor. In 1818 this Committee sent a circular letter to every parish to be completed by the incumbent or his representative.

The Digest of the returns was presented in tabular form in four columns.

• 1. Parish, population, and name of the minister signing the Return.

• 2. Particulars relating to endowments for the education of youth.

• 3. Other institutions for the purpose of education.

• 4. Observations.

Presumably certain ‘stock’ observations were suggested as such expressions as ‘The poor are desirous of education’ appear frequently.

In the following transcription the presentation has been simplified but no information has been omitted. First the parish and population are given, then the information of columns 2, 3 and 4, and the signature.

The returns are supplied in alphabetical order of parish, including all the places which were part of Bedfordshire in 1818. In the cases of parishes which have joined Bedfordshire since 1818, their returns are listed at the end.

DIGEST of Returns to Circular Letter from the Select Committee on Education of the Poor & c. (1818) PP1819IX

County of Bedford

AMPTHILL population 1,299

2 A school for the education of 5 boys, encreased lately to 10 or 12. The salary is £5 per ann. arising from a house and land in the parish. Another school, of which the parishes of Meppershall and Ampthill are each entitled to a moiety of the rent, which is £30 per ann. and arises from a house and land in the parish of Wilshampstead; exclusive of repairs for the house, the salary is £15 for the instruction of 20 children from Ampthill.