{"id":1145,"date":"2025-09-12T12:26:32","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T11:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/paxtonnursery1\/?page_id=1145"},"modified":"2025-11-03T15:46:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T15:46:45","slug":"paxtons-nursery","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/paxtonnursery1\/paxtons-nursery\/","title":{"rendered":"Paxton&#8217;s History"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"grid-template-columns: 54% auto\">\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"318\" height=\"437\" class=\"wp-image-1232 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19102519\/Miss-Paxton-on-the-29th-November-1935-e1758274064876.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\r\n<p><strong>Miss Jessie Paxton (MBE)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>With two of her first pupils at the nursery on 29th November 1935.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jessie Paxton: From Texas to Fife \u2013 A Legacy of Care<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Some people leave behind more than memories\u2014they leave behind a legacy. <strong>Jessie Paxton (1895\u20131962)<\/strong> was one of those people. Her life started in Texas, but her vision and hard work transformed early years education in Methil, Fife. This is her story.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Early Life in Texas and Scotland<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Jessie was born in <strong>San Antonio, Texas<\/strong> in 1895, the eldest child of <strong>Robert Carswell Paxton<\/strong> and <strong>Margaret Donald Baird<\/strong>. Her father had left Scotland years earlier to run a ranch in Texas, where he looked after sheep and cattle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In 1899, the family returned to Scotland, first living in <strong>Edinburgh<\/strong> before moving to <strong>Lundin Links<\/strong> in Fife. Jessie grew up in a busy household with her sisters Margaret, Isabella, and Emily. Sadly, tragedy struck in 1912 when her youngest sister Emily died aged just four.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Experiences like this shaped Jessie\u2019s compassion and care for young children. As one saying goes: <em>\u201cOut of difficulties grow miracles.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inspired to Teach<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In the early 1930s, Jessie discovered her passion. After visiting nursery schools in London, she decided to train as a nursery teacher, influenced by the work of <strong>Margaret and Rachel McMillan<\/strong>, who believed children learned best through play, fresh air, and kindness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Her belief was simple: every child deserved a safe and happy start in life. <em>\u201cEducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire,\u201d<\/em> wrote poet W.B. Yeats\u2014and Jessie wanted to light that fire.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Opening the First Nursery<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>On <strong>26 November 1935<\/strong>, Jessie opened her first nursery in <strong>Lindsay\u2019s Square Hall, Methil<\/strong>. At the beginning there were just <strong>18 children<\/strong>, but the nursery quickly became popular. Families valued the warm, caring environment, and within two years there was even a waiting list.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Jessie\u2019s nursery gave children more than lessons. They enjoyed outdoor walks, songs, games, and even learned to brush their teeth. Above all, they felt safe and valued. As Theodore Roosevelt once said: <em>\u201cDo what you can, with what you have, where you are.\u201d<\/em> Jessie truly lived by those words.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Building a Legacy<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Through the years, Jessie\u2019s work grew. More nurseries opened, more children enrolled, and her influence spread. In <strong>1956<\/strong>, she received the <strong>MBE<\/strong> for her service to education. Four years later, in <strong>1960<\/strong>, a purpose-built nursery opened in Methil\u2014a dream come true for Jessie.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>She passed away in <strong>1962<\/strong>, but the nursery was renamed <strong>Paxton Nursery<\/strong> in her honour. Today, it still carries her name and spirit, continuing to nurture children in Fife.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>Photos from the Lower Methil Nursery at Lyndsay Square now know as St Andrews Square.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow\" data-effect=\"slide\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper\">\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\">\r\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"522\" height=\"324\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1242\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114136\/Playroom-at-Lower-Methil-Nursery.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114136\/Playroom-at-Lower-Methil-Nursery.png 522w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114136\/Playroom-at-Lower-Methil-Nursery-300x186.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Inside Lower Methil Nursery<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"376\" height=\"283\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1235\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114126\/2-boys-and-a-train-lower-methil.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114126\/2-boys-and-a-train-lower-methil.png 376w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114126\/2-boys-and-a-train-lower-methil-300x226.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 376px) 100vw, 376px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Lower Methil &#8211; 2 Boys and a Train<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"283\" height=\"232\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1234\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114126\/Miss-Paxton-and-Mis-Cameron-at-lower-methil.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1234\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Miss Cameron (L) and Miss Paxton (R)<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"377\" height=\"274\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1241\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114136\/at-the-beach-1.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114136\/at-the-beach-1.png 377w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114136\/at-the-beach-1-300x218.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">At the Beach!<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"290\" height=\"351\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1240\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114136\/at-the-beach-2.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114136\/at-the-beach-2.png 290w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114136\/at-the-beach-2-248x300.png 248w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">At the Beach!<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"260\" height=\"294\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1239\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114132\/at-the-beach-3-.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1239\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">At the Beach!<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"584\" height=\"413\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1236\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114127\/Inside-Lower-Methil-Nursery.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114127\/Inside-Lower-Methil-Nursery.png 584w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114127\/Inside-Lower-Methil-Nursery-300x212.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">On the Slide<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"266\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1238\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114128\/Lower-Methil-1.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114128\/Lower-Methil-1.png 266w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114128\/Lower-Methil-1-177x300.png 177w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">3 Boys Playing<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"380\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1233\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114126\/Lower-methil-on-the-rocking-horses.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114126\/Lower-methil-on-the-rocking-horses.png 270w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114126\/Lower-methil-on-the-rocking-horses-213x300.png 213w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">On the Rocking Horses<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\r\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"470\" height=\"296\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1237\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114128\/lower-methil-toy-shop.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114128\/lower-methil-toy-shop.png 470w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/public\/paxtonnursery1\/uploads\/sites\/12648\/2025\/09\/19114128\/lower-methil-toy-shop-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 470px) 100vw, 470px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Lower Methil &#8211; At the Toy Shop<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Miss Jessie Paxton (MBE) With two of her first pupils at the nursery on 29th November 1935. Jessie Paxton: From Texas to Fife \u2013 A Legacy of Care Some people leave behind more than memories\u2014they leave behind a legacy. Jessie Paxton (1895\u20131962) was one of those people. Her life started in Texas, but her [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25207,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1145","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/paxtonnursery1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/paxtonnursery1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/paxtonnursery1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/paxtonnursery1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25207"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/paxtonnursery1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1145"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/paxtonnursery1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1328,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/paxtonnursery1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1145\/revisions\/1328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fi\/paxtonnursery1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}