Hill Brow Preparatory School for Boys
Encyclopedia
Hill Brow Preparatory School for Boys was a small English preparatory school
, initially based in Eastbourne
, East Sussex
, but subsequently relocated to Brent Knoll in Somerset
as part of the evacuation of civilians
that took place during World War II
.
exam at 13. In its later days, it accommodated between 50 and 60 boys, both boarders
and day students.
In the 1890s, there was a Hillbrow Boys' Preparatory School in Rugby
that was attended by Rupert Brooke from 1897 until mid-1901., however there can have been no connection between the two schools since Hill Brow School first appears in the 1893/4 edition of Pike's Eastbourne Directory located in Bolsover Road in the Meads
district of Eastbourne
under the headmastership of J.S. Croombe M.A..
The 1901 Eastbourne
census records confirms the presence of Hill Brow School at that address and under the same headmastership, together with 13 boys aged between 9 and 14. Over the next 10 years the school doubled in size, with 24 pupils recorded in the 1911 census records but now under the headmastership of Robert Gidley Thornton (aged 42), with its erstwhile head, James Croombe (47) demoted to a position of "Asst. Master".
The next documented record of the school appears in "The Intriguing Story of Saint Christopher's Eastbourne", which records that Hill Brow School remained in Bolsover Road until June 1934 when it moved to buildings that previously housed St. Christopher’s girls' school which had closed in 1932. These buildings in Gaudick Road now form the Hillbrow Campus of Brighton University.
Gowland’s Eastbourne Postal & Borough 1936 Directory records that in that year the school was registered under the names of Robert Gidley Thornton and JP & F.J. Matthews MA as joint-principals. Sometime between 1936 and 1940, Thornton handed over the headmaster's role to F.J. (John) Matthews M.A. who remained headmaster of the school until its closure in 1967.
In June 1940, just before the first German bombing raids over the town, Matthews evacuated the school to a safer location in the village of Brent Knoll in Somerset
- the move almost certainly being prompted by fear of German invasion of the South Coast of England following the fall of France. What had been the school building in Gaudick Road, Eastbourne, was subsequently damaged on 16 August 1940 when a German pilot was killed falling onto its roof after his parachute failed to open.
The school's new location was at Somerset Court in Brent Knoll, which was locally remembered as one of Judge Jeffreys' court-houses in the aftermath of the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion
. Somerset Court was built in the late 18th century and is a Grade II listed building. There Matthews had the assistance of a small staff of seasoned, if untrained, teachers most of whom had experienced active service during the war, including: (Major) George (Rory, O'Brien) Newbery who first joined the school in 1929; James Sergeant; and William 'Bill' Mayo (ex Royal Navy). Mrs Barbara Solomon, a war widow, was given charge of the junior form and ran music lessons. Matthews's wife, Gerry, was in charge of catering and other domestic arrangements. Maintenance 'handy man' George Blaber and Ms Ravenscroft, the school matron, made up the remaining permanent staff.
Matthews also took on teaching duties, focussing on French and Scripture. He also led prayers at school assembly each morning during which a reading from the Bible was given by a prefect. On Sundays the boarders would walk under supervision to the local village church of St Michael
for the Matins
service.
As at other schools of its type, sport was strongly encouraged, with emphasis on cricket in the summer term, soccer in the autumn term and hockey in the spring. Rugby was also taught to prepare boys for public school sports. Swimming lessons were provided once per week at the Knightstone Baths in Weston-super-Mare
, where a swimming competition was held once per year. Likewise, a sports day
involving various forms of athletics was held once per year in the summer, followed by formal speeches and prize-giving.
A keen gardener and craftsman, Matthews personally oversaw the upkeep of the school’s grounds and extensive kitchen gardens. He also imparted his carpentry and gardening skills to boys who signed up for his after-school classes, and set up a rifle range for pupils to use as an extracurricular activity.
The school closed in 1967 on the retirement of Matthews, brought about by a combination of circumstances that included the encroachment of the (then new) M5 motorway
over part of the school's sports field. However, rising costs, increasing government regulation and falling attendance were the most probable factors in the decision to close the school.
In 1974, Somerset Court was occupied by the National Autistic Society
, becoming one of its main facilities for the care of autistic adults.
The buildings and grounds of Somerset Court remain much as they did in the 1950s apart from the addition of a number of extensions, workshops and residential buildings. As noted above, the construction of the M5 motorway cut off the northwest corner of the old school's sports field.
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
, initially based in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, but subsequently relocated to Brent Knoll in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
as part of the evacuation of civilians
Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II
Evacuation of civilians in Britain during the Second World War was designed to save the population of urban or military areas in the United Kingdom from aerial bombing of cities and military targets such as docks. Civilians, particularly children, were moved to areas thought to be less at risk....
that took place during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
Hill Brow School was restricted to boys-only and never admitted scholarship boys or others funded by the public purse on grounds of academic merit rather than the ability of their parents to pay the fees. The school accepted boys from seven years old until they took their Common EntranceCommon Entrance
Common Entrance Examinations are taken by some children in the UK as part of the admissions process for academically selective secondary schools at age 13 or 11. Most of the secondary schools that use Common Entrance for admission are public schools; most of the schools that routinely prepare...
exam at 13. In its later days, it accommodated between 50 and 60 boys, both boarders
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
and day students.
In the 1890s, there was a Hillbrow Boys' Preparatory School in Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
that was attended by Rupert Brooke from 1897 until mid-1901., however there can have been no connection between the two schools since Hill Brow School first appears in the 1893/4 edition of Pike's Eastbourne Directory located in Bolsover Road in the Meads
Meads
Meads is an area of the town of Eastbourne in the English county of East Sussex. It is situated at the westerly end of the town below the South Downs.- Boundaries :...
district of Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
under the headmastership of J.S. Croombe M.A..
The 1901 Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
census records confirms the presence of Hill Brow School at that address and under the same headmastership, together with 13 boys aged between 9 and 14. Over the next 10 years the school doubled in size, with 24 pupils recorded in the 1911 census records but now under the headmastership of Robert Gidley Thornton (aged 42), with its erstwhile head, James Croombe (47) demoted to a position of "Asst. Master".
The next documented record of the school appears in "The Intriguing Story of Saint Christopher's Eastbourne", which records that Hill Brow School remained in Bolsover Road until June 1934 when it moved to buildings that previously housed St. Christopher’s girls' school which had closed in 1932. These buildings in Gaudick Road now form the Hillbrow Campus of Brighton University.
Gowland’s Eastbourne Postal & Borough 1936 Directory records that in that year the school was registered under the names of Robert Gidley Thornton and JP & F.J. Matthews MA as joint-principals. Sometime between 1936 and 1940, Thornton handed over the headmaster's role to F.J. (John) Matthews M.A. who remained headmaster of the school until its closure in 1967.
In June 1940, just before the first German bombing raids over the town, Matthews evacuated the school to a safer location in the village of Brent Knoll in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
- the move almost certainly being prompted by fear of German invasion of the South Coast of England following the fall of France. What had been the school building in Gaudick Road, Eastbourne, was subsequently damaged on 16 August 1940 when a German pilot was killed falling onto its roof after his parachute failed to open.
The school's new location was at Somerset Court in Brent Knoll, which was locally remembered as one of Judge Jeffreys' court-houses in the aftermath of the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion
Monmouth Rebellion
The Monmouth Rebellion,The Revolt of the West or The West Country rebellion of 1685, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some...
. Somerset Court was built in the late 18th century and is a Grade II listed building. There Matthews had the assistance of a small staff of seasoned, if untrained, teachers most of whom had experienced active service during the war, including: (Major) George (Rory, O'Brien) Newbery who first joined the school in 1929; James Sergeant; and William 'Bill' Mayo (ex Royal Navy). Mrs Barbara Solomon, a war widow, was given charge of the junior form and ran music lessons. Matthews's wife, Gerry, was in charge of catering and other domestic arrangements. Maintenance 'handy man' George Blaber and Ms Ravenscroft, the school matron, made up the remaining permanent staff.
Matthews also took on teaching duties, focussing on French and Scripture. He also led prayers at school assembly each morning during which a reading from the Bible was given by a prefect. On Sundays the boarders would walk under supervision to the local village church of St Michael
Church of St Michael, Brent Knoll
The Church of St Michael at Brent Knoll, Somerset, England dates from the 11th century but has undergone several renovations since then. It has been designated as a grade I listed building....
for the Matins
Matins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
service.
As at other schools of its type, sport was strongly encouraged, with emphasis on cricket in the summer term, soccer in the autumn term and hockey in the spring. Rugby was also taught to prepare boys for public school sports. Swimming lessons were provided once per week at the Knightstone Baths in Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
, where a swimming competition was held once per year. Likewise, a sports day
Sports day
Sports days, sometimes referred to as Field Day, are events staged by many schools and offices in which people take part in competitive sporting activities, often with the aim of winning trophies or prizes...
involving various forms of athletics was held once per year in the summer, followed by formal speeches and prize-giving.
A keen gardener and craftsman, Matthews personally oversaw the upkeep of the school’s grounds and extensive kitchen gardens. He also imparted his carpentry and gardening skills to boys who signed up for his after-school classes, and set up a rifle range for pupils to use as an extracurricular activity.
The school closed in 1967 on the retirement of Matthews, brought about by a combination of circumstances that included the encroachment of the (then new) M5 motorway
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
over part of the school's sports field. However, rising costs, increasing government regulation and falling attendance were the most probable factors in the decision to close the school.
In 1974, Somerset Court was occupied by the National Autistic Society
National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society is a British charity for people with autistic spectrum disorders , including autism and Asperger's Syndrome. The purpose of the organisation is primarily to improve of the lives of people with Autism in the United Kingdom.Founded in 1962 as the Autistic Children's Aid...
, becoming one of its main facilities for the care of autistic adults.
The buildings and grounds of Somerset Court remain much as they did in the 1950s apart from the addition of a number of extensions, workshops and residential buildings. As noted above, the construction of the M5 motorway cut off the northwest corner of the old school's sports field.