The third Palmers College is shown above and was opened in 1874 at the corner of Chadwell Road. and Southend Road. The original scheme conceived in 1870 was to provide places for 40 borders and 100 day scholars. The new buildings of which a Mr. Maples was architect and Messrs. Darby and Sons were the contractors began in 1873 , the girls school was not completed until 1876, probably because of financial difficulties, a mortgage of £4000 was needed to help cover the cost of £5,500.

     The photograph on the title page is perhaps the best known view taken from Southend Road. Palmers College was demolished in 1980 and an old peoples home now occupy the site.

Palmers Girls School.

     The first headmistress of Palmers girls school was Miss Harriette Beck who took charge in 1876, initially with just six girls but this quickly increased to about 30 both day scholars and borders, she continued as head mistress for nearly 31 years. Miss Elizabeth Beck, the sister of Harriette attended to the domestic side , taught French, and gave cookery lessons.

     Girls were admitted from the age of seven and might stay until they reached 18 though most stayed only 2 or 3 years, on leaving only a few followed careers , the majority returning home.