St Brandon's School
Encyclopedia
St Brandon's School was a private infant and junior school, and a senior boarding school for girls located in Clevedon
, England
, opened in 1831 and closed in 2004.
in 1831. In 1833, the school moved '..to a house on the Royal Fort site', and in 1862 to Great George Street on St Brandon's Hill in Bristol
, in premises for which the architect was William Venn Gough
. The name of the school was changed to St Brandon's Clergy Daughters' School after its location in 1904 in order to distinguish it from other Clergy Daughters' Schools at Brighton, Casterton and Darley Dale, and this was shortened to St Brandon's School in the 1930s. A junior department was opened in Henley
in 1933, and plans were made to move the senior school there. During World War II
, the school was evacuated to the Bishop's Palace in Wells
. In 1945, it bought and moved to Clevedon Hall, where it remained until 1991. It erected some additional school buildings in the grounds, including a new wing which was opened by the Duchess of Gloucester
in 1958.
The school had financial difficulties, with debts of about £1 million, in late 1990, and the senior school was closed in July 1991. The infant and junior schools were sold in 1992 and continued as coeducational institutions in lower grounds of the Clevedon Hall estate. St Brandon's School was closed in 2004,
in 1990, a conservatory collapsed, and a pupil was killed and four, or possibly five, others injured.
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
, 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...
, opened in 1831 and closed in 2004.
History
The school was founded in 1830 by Reverend Holmes, minister of Christ Church in Gloucester, and Miss Abraham, as the Clergy Daughters' School, opening in GloucesterGloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
in 1831. In 1833, the school moved '..to a house on the Royal Fort site', and in 1862 to Great George Street on St Brandon's Hill in Bristol
Brandon Hill, Bristol
Brandon Hill, also known as St Brandon's Hill, is a hill close to Bristol city centre, between the districts of Clifton and Hotwells, in south west England....
, in premises for which the architect was William Venn Gough
William Venn Gough
William Venn Gough was an architect responsible for a number of prominent buildings in Bristol. His works include the Cabot Tower, Colston's Girls' School, Trinity Road Library, and Port of Bristol Authority Docks Office, now Queen Square House, in Queen Square.From 1872 he had an office at...
. The name of the school was changed to St Brandon's Clergy Daughters' School after its location in 1904 in order to distinguish it from other Clergy Daughters' Schools at Brighton, Casterton and Darley Dale, and this was shortened to St Brandon's School in the 1930s. A junior department was opened in Henley
Henley
- Places :UK:*Henley-on-Thames, a town in South Oxfordshire, England**Henley Rural District, a former rural district in Oxfordshire*Henley-in-Arden, a village in Warwickshire, England*Henley, Suffolk, a village in Suffolk, England...
in 1933, and plans were made to move the senior school there. 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...
, the school was evacuated to the Bishop's Palace in Wells
Bishop's Palace, Wells
The Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset, England, is adjacent to Wells Cathedral and has been the home of the Bishops of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for 800 years....
. In 1945, it bought and moved to Clevedon Hall, where it remained until 1991. It erected some additional school buildings in the grounds, including a new wing which was opened by the Duchess of Gloucester
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester was a member of the British Royal Family, the wife and then widow of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of George V and Queen Mary.The daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry, Scotland’s largest landowner, her brothers Walter and...
in 1958.
The school had financial difficulties, with debts of about £1 million, in late 1990, and the senior school was closed in July 1991. The infant and junior schools were sold in 1992 and continued as coeducational institutions in lower grounds of the Clevedon Hall estate. St Brandon's School was closed in 2004,
Accident
In the Burns' Day stormBurns' Day storm
The Burns' Day Storm occurred on 25–26 January, 1990, over north-western Europe, and is one of the strongest storms on record. This storm has received different names as there is no official list of such events in Europe. It is also known as Daria. Starting on the birthday of Scottish poet...
in 1990, a conservatory collapsed, and a pupil was killed and four, or possibly five, others injured.
Notable former pupils
- Jenny BarracloughJenny BarracloughJennifer Ann Barraclough OBE is a British film and television producer. Much of her work is in television documentaries. She is also involved in a number of trusts and charities including the Grierson Trust, LEPRA, and the Razumovsky Ensemble....
- Monica EdwardsMonica EdwardsMonica Edwards was an English children's writer of the mid-twentieth century best known for her Romney Marsh and Punchbowl Farm series of children's novels.-Early life:...
- Daphne PearsonDaphne PearsonJoan Daphne Mary Pearson GC was an English Women's Auxiliary Air Force officer during World War II and one of only thirteen women recipients of the George Cross, the highest medal for gallantry not in the face of an enemy that can be awarded to a citizen of the United Kingdom.-Early life:Pearson...
Further reading
- St. Brandon's School - 150 years - Published 1981, Ian Gibbins (Bristol) 89 pages
- St Brandon's School at the Private Schools Directory
- Establishment: St Brandon's School at EduBase