St Leonards and St Ives Parish History
Until after WW1, children of families living in St. Ives and surrounding farms had to walk the 2 miles into Ringwood for their education. In 1919 locals persuaded the Education authorities to open a school in an old Wesleyan Chapel on the main road, and it survived until 1926. The authority then agreed to bus younger children into Ringwood. (xxii) In 1927 Ashley Halt gave access to the railway for older pupils at Brockenhurst College. For those who could afford it, Brackenbrae, a private school run by two ladies in St. Ives, was available, but it closed in about 1951. In 1971, St. Ives First School opened on land purchased from the St. Ives House Estate, and has established a good reputation. (xxiii)
In 1951 a Shieling Community opened in Ashley, based on several large properties and considerable land donated in part by a local resident who had a disabled child. It is a residential school for children with a wide variety of special needs, and a working community for adults with disabilities. (xxiv)
Parishioners served their country in the two World Wars, but there is no WW1 memorial. There was considerable local activity during WW2, both civilian and military. (xxv) In 1949, 40 veterans got together, parishioners donated, and local companies gave product and an interest free loan to build an Ex-Servicemen's Club on a site donated by the family of one of eight local people who died in WW2. Their names appear on a plaque in the Church. The Club prospered, at one time with over 1000 members, and built a larger club in 1965, and extended it in the 1980s. A founder member is still with us. (xxvi)
The RSPCA took over part of an old farm near Wools Bridge in 1966, and now provides a service for a wide surrounding area. (xxvii)
RINGWOOD ROAD COTTAGES WITH WESLEYAN CHAPEL (TB archive ex T.H. Russell album, 1910s) - ST. IVES FIRST SCHOOL (Parish Plan p9)