The Building of St Edward's School: A Chronology (1870 - 2020)

P AGE N O : 22 Wind Vane in the Bell Turret ‘released’ after ‘pointing steadfastly to the North West for thirty-five years’ (Hill, 1963) Chapel organ cleaned and tuned (Hill, 1963) New bathrooms and dormitories fitted on second storey of the Main Buildings, also all dormitories refurbished A builder’s strike in Oxford holds up some of the work, but on the outbreak of war priorities change and rapidly new washrooms and baths on both floors of the Old Buildings are completed, with the introduction of hot water for the first time Sanatorium and Lodge redecorated Wire cages erected around the windows of Big School to exclude sparrows (felt ineffective later on ) Old Common Room in Big School refitted as a ‘small boys’ room An even older Common Room in the New Buildings converted into three dormitories for 30 of the youngest boys. Temporary aerodrome established on Port Meadow by the Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force); regular crashes occur in full view of the School’s population. The ‘wooden’ buildings erected on this aerodrome are later purchased by the School after the war and used for various purposes until the 1960s With over 150 pupils now at the School ‘this about exhausts our present accommodation and the boys are learning to pack like sardines and live in one another’s pockets’ (Cowell diaries). A house in South Parade with a garden had already been leased to ease the problems of sleeping space’ (Hill, 1963). 1916 - All School rooms disinfected under D.O.R.A. (Defence of the Realm Act) regulations Start made on the Honour Boards being erected in Big School. Built of Siberian Oak ‘of a very pleasing cream colour upon which the red lettering should look well’ (Cowell). Built to a height of 3ft (Hill, 1963) Cement edging to Outdoor Bath completely renewed. The Armoury situated in the old stables area in South Parade also renewed and an Orderly Room added (out of the old Harness Room) and then further extended to house the full supply of newly arrived rifles, recently delivered by the War Office (Hill, 1963) Harold Rogers draws up plans to re-establish the Sanatorium in the Hollies, but this idea is dropped. 1917 - New firing range behind the ‘Hollies’ completed and in use The Prince of Wales’s initiative of School War Service Memorials is seized upon by Warden Ferguson, who decides to begin an appeal with a £10,000 (£1,170,000 today) target in order to provide: - ‘A Calvary, standing in a deep bay, around which the names of the fallen would be inscribed. The existing Cloisters to be extended southwards from Big School. Secondly, to establish sufficient sums to enable the sons of fallen O.S.E. to be educated at the School at a reduced rate. Thirdly, at the end of the newly extended Cloisters, a new Science School to replace the existing Laboratory and fourthly, if 1915 - Big School ‘re-lit with fine English lamps’ and re-decorated Hall, Chapel and cloisters re-decorated and repaired where necessary