Sewing sample, miniature collar

Miniature collar of white plain weave linen with a cototn neck frill, part of a miniature uniform for a girl of the Vintry Ward Charity School made by the donor's grandmother.

Vintry Ward Charity school began in 1710, for the education of poor children. It joined with the National school in 1816, and further merged with the Ward Schools of Castle Baynard and Queenhithe in 1875. The original provisions for clothing were for 30 boys, and 20 girls and these numbers stayed the same after the pupil numbers rose to 88. While all children were to be 'fully clothed', the girls had new garments twice a year; the boys only once. An advertisement for a new teacher reveals that girls learnt 'reading, writing, the first four rules in arithmetic, and plain needlework' within the guidelines of the National System.

The boy's school-house was built in 1840 on Brickhill Lane on land leased from the Vintners' Company. The combined schools continued to use premises in Sermon Lane as the school-house for girls and infants. The school closed after being bombed during World War II.

Vintry Ward is one of the 25 Wards of the City of London. It fronts the Thames and is bounded by Queen Victoria Street, Cannon
Street, Queenhithe and Cousin Lane. It takes its name from the wine-merchants who used to deliver cargo at the wharves there. The
Worshipful Company of Vintners is still based in the Ward, as is the Cutlers' Company who supported the school with donations through the 18th and 19th century.