Miss Morelli – School for Little Boys and Girls
This was one of the examples of early child care, nursery school/pre-school in Sutton New Town. The advert above appeared in the St Barnabas Parish Magazine from December 1925 to April 1927.
Miss Flora Margherita Louise Morelli was born in Kensington, London in 1865. Her father was Marino Vincenzo Fhillipo Morelli, an engraver, artist and photographer, born in Rome, Italy. Her mother was Margaret Mary (née Guthrie), she was also an artist and was born in Marylebone, London. Flora’s parents married in London in 1855. Flora had two brothers; Alexander (b. 1857 in Rome) and Edward (b. 1870 in Kensington).
For many years Flora lived with family members at 91 Lewisham High Road, Deptford. Flora does not appear to have had to work during her time there and the household always had a general servant. The head of the household was her uncle Richard Thompson, who was a clerk at the General Registry Office. Richard died in 1906, aged 82 and at this point, Flora, her mother and younger brother appear to have moved to Sutton.
Sadly, Flora’s younger brother, a violinist died in August 1907 aged 37 (at the time he was a patient at Banstead Asylum). Flora’s mother died in December 1907 aged 84. Both deaths were registered in the Epsom district.
In 1908 Flora appears on the Sutton rate books as the occupier of “Nicobar”, Carshalton Grove, Sutton. The 1911 census records Flora living at “Ironton”, Carshalton Grove, Sutton. She was 46 years old and “a daily governess and teacher of pianoforte”.
Flora is recorded on the electoral rolls from 1915 to 1924 at 25-27 Carshalton Grove. This was a maisonette property with number 25 known as “Ironton” and number 27 known as “Januaria”.
It appears Flora was probably equipped to give small children of New Town a musical and creative early years experience.
By 1927 Flora had moved to 1 Carshalton Grove. Flora died in Charing Cross Hospital in London on 22nd January 1930, aged 65 and she is buried in Sutton.
Sutton New Town 