La Sagesse
Encyclopedia
La Sagesse was a Roman Catholic
private school in the suburb of Jesmond
, Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
. The school closed in 2008.
, France
, Marie Louise Trichet
co-founded the Filles de la Sagesse (Daughters of Wisdom
in English
) which, after a rather rapid expansion, is now 300 years old and dispersed among 21 countries. The Daughters of Wisdom travelled the world and founded many schools. They travelled from France
to England
and established a school in Low Fell
in 1906 before buying Jesmond Towers and converting it into a convent
in 1912.
building. It was bought by Charles Mitchell in 1869. Charles and his wife Anne, who he married in 1854, made the house their home. The lounge was home to many great paintings which were collected by their son who was great art enthusiast.
In 1890 Anne's sister, Emily, who was in a state of depression following the death of her husband, threw herself from the battlements of Jesmond Towers and is said to haunt the school to this very day: she is referred to as the Pink Lady.
Following Anne Mitchell's death in 1899, Jesmond Towers was inherited by her son Charles William Mitchell until his death in 1903( see details of occupants in 1901 Census). Following his death the Mitchell family home soon became Pallinburn, formerley the Askew family residence near Ford,Northumberland and Jesmond Towers was sold to become La Sagesse in 1912.
and ranked 350th on The Times Parent Power List. In 2007, boys were first admitted to the high school starting in Years 7 and progressing upwards.
The school had continued to rent the building and the surrounding land from the Daughters of Wisdom who had trebled the rent. The school had faced increasing competition from other local public schools (e.g. the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, becoming fully co-educational) meant the school only had approximately two hundred pupils when it closed.
announced that La Sagesse would be used as the new set for the Dumping Ground in the new children's television series, Tracy Beaker Returns
. The renovation of the school was completed in 4 weeks.
named after monasteries in the North of England and each house had a colour,
Later, the houses were named after the mythological goddesses of wisdom in Roman, Greek and Egyptian culture:
During the 1960s and 70s, the school houses were named after the patron saints of the countries of the British Isles and France:
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
private school in the suburb of Jesmond
Jesmond
Jesmond is a residential suburb and is split into two electoral wards just north of the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The population is about 12,000. It is adjacent to, and to the east of, the Town Moor, providing pedestrian and cycle paths to Spital Tongues and the city's two Universities...
, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The school closed in 2008.
History
In 1715, in La RochelleLa Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Marie Louise Trichet
Marie Louise Trichet
Blessed Marie Louise Trichet also known as Marie-Louise de Jésus was a French Catholic figure who, with Saint Louis de Montfort, founded the Congregation of religious women called Daughters of Wisdom and since the age of seventeen devoted her life to caring for the poor and the sick. She is also...
co-founded the Filles de la Sagesse (Daughters of Wisdom
Daughters of Wisdom
Daughters of Wisdom is a Catholic contemplative organization founded by Saint Louis de Montfort and Blessed Marie Louise Trichet.While he was temporary chaplain of the hospital of Poitiers in 1707, he associated into a little community some pious but afflicted girls, and gave them a rule of life,...
in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) which, after a rather rapid expansion, is now 300 years old and dispersed among 21 countries. The Daughters of Wisdom travelled the world and founded many schools. They travelled from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and established a school in Low Fell
Low Fell
Low Fell is a fell in the English Lake District. It overlooks the lake of Loweswater to the south and to the north is bordered by its neighbour Fellbarrow. It is usually climbed from the villages of Loweswater or Thackthwaite. The fell is largely occupied by grassed enclosures, although there are...
in 1906 before buying Jesmond Towers and converting it into a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
in 1912.
Jesmond Towers
Built in various stages through the nineteenth century, Jesmond Towers is a large gothic-lookingGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
building. It was bought by Charles Mitchell in 1869. Charles and his wife Anne, who he married in 1854, made the house their home. The lounge was home to many great paintings which were collected by their son who was great art enthusiast.
In 1890 Anne's sister, Emily, who was in a state of depression following the death of her husband, threw herself from the battlements of Jesmond Towers and is said to haunt the school to this very day: she is referred to as the Pink Lady.
Following Anne Mitchell's death in 1899, Jesmond Towers was inherited by her son Charles William Mitchell until his death in 1903( see details of occupants in 1901 Census). Following his death the Mitchell family home soon became Pallinburn, formerley the Askew family residence near Ford,Northumberland and Jesmond Towers was sold to become La Sagesse in 1912.
The school
The school became one of the top independent schools in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and ranked 350th on The Times Parent Power List. In 2007, boys were first admitted to the high school starting in Years 7 and progressing upwards.
Closure
In March 2008 the school announced that it would close on 31 August 2008.The school had continued to rent the building and the surrounding land from the Daughters of Wisdom who had trebled the rent. The school had faced increasing competition from other local public schools (e.g. the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, becoming fully co-educational) meant the school only had approximately two hundred pupils when it closed.
Aftermath
Almost a year after its closure, the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
announced that La Sagesse would be used as the new set for the Dumping Ground in the new children's television series, Tracy Beaker Returns
Tracy Beaker Returns
Tracy Beaker Returns is a BAFTA winning British children's television series, which premiered on 8 January 2010 on CBBC and BBC HD. Based upon the novels by Jacqueline Wilson, It is the spin-off series to The Story of Tracy Beaker...
. The renovation of the school was completed in 4 weeks.
School Houses
In the past there were four housesHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
named after monasteries in the North of England and each house had a colour,
- LindisfarneLindisfarneLindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
- Red - IonaIonaIona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
- Blue - DunelmDunelmDunelm is an abbreviation of the Latin word Dunelmensis. It is also the name of various things.Dunelm or dunelm may refer to:* The post-nominal abbreviation for Dunelmensis , indicating a degree awarded by the University of Durham...
- Green - MelroseMelrose AbbeyMelrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. It was headed by the Abbot or Commendator of Melrose. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland...
- Yellow
Later, the houses were named after the mythological goddesses of wisdom in Roman, Greek and Egyptian culture:
- IsisIsisIsis or in original more likely Aset is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the matron of nature and magic...
- Orange - Egyptian - MinervaMinervaMinerva was the Roman goddess whom Romans from the 2nd century BC onwards equated with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic...
- Maroon - Roman - AthenaAthenaIn Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
- Purple - Greek
During the 1960s and 70s, the school houses were named after the patron saints of the countries of the British Isles and France:
- St Andrew
- St David
- St George
- St Patrick
- St Michael