EDUCATION SCHOOLS PROFILE
The Harrodian School in London
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believed to be the oldest garden in England, under continuous cultivation for around a millennium. Palladio and history were united in
the north of England too, in the guise of Queen Mary’s School, York, the fi rst Palladian-style house in England and former home of York MP and Lord Mayor, Sir William Robinson. The school keeps the tradition going that only seniors have the privilege of using the front door and main stairs – which in the 17th century would only have been used by the family, guests, butler and housekeeper. The juniors use the side doors and back stairs, unless granted permission by a Year 11 girl. “The fact the building was a family home adds to the school’s atmosphere,” says Headmaster Robert McKenzie Johnston. “The boarders like sleeping in the main building where they can curl up in front of the big house fi res.” Bricks and mortar can only do so
much to honour a riveting history, so keeping traditions such as Queen Mary’s ‘door and stairs rule’ serves as a reminder of a school’s heritage. Lord Wandsworth College, Hampshire, which started as a foundation for orphans from agricultural backgrounds, has kept the junior boarding houses half a mile from the school, next to the dairy where pupils once milked cows for warm milk at breakfast. The
18 FIRST ELEVEN SUMMER 2010 WWW.FIRSTELEVENMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Above: Queen Mary’s School in York is a Grade I listed Palladian country house. Below: Roald Dahl’s family home is now part of Howell’s School, Cardiff . Below right: School pupils celebrate Dahl Day
Headmaster is also encouraging the Beekeeping Society’s return as the former club produced honey for the submarine forces during the war. Cardiff’s Howell’s School pays
Palladian house in England
homage to its literary history by the yearly celebration of Dahl Day. This began in 2007 when a plaque to Roald Dahl was unveiled outside the music building, which was once the author’s childhood home. When Dahl’s widow, Felicity, visited the school and spoke about her husband’s memories of the house, the children welcomed her dressed as characters from his books.
Mary’s School was the fi rst
Queen
also has a unique history. The school was originally a sports club for the sole use of Harrods’ employees. The Harrodian Club was set up in 1929 by the store’s managing director and sport fanatic Sir Woodman Burbidge, with the purpose of boosting workers’ morale. The Harrodian Gazette wrote that it was to celebrate ‘traditions of comradeship, team work and Esprit- de-corps’. Sir Woodman’s son Richard opened the club and took employees on a tour of its many rooms including a magnifi cent dance hall and sumptuous billiard saloon. After the club closed in 1988, it
was bought by a school and aptly named The Harrodian School.
There is something to be said
for a place wanting to cherish its history, whether it be in the choice of school name, a plaque or in keeping up traditions today that were part of a school’s previous existence. Recognising the background of a school keeps the diverse history of a place or building alive. These intriguing histories are what gives a school its soul, and consequently inspires those who learn within it. %
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