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

P AGE N O : 53 1933 - The fourth Cricket Pavilion ( Brook Kitchin design ) finished and in full use, the central clock presented by Sir Russell Bencraft (O.S.E.), who officially opens the building at Gaudy 1933 School acquires 32 acres of land ‘adjoing our fields in the Wolvercote direction; our rural security is thus still further preserved’ (December Chronicle) Stained-glass window (Christopher Well design) placed in the Memorial Chapel dedicated to William Weatherley (O.SE.) who had died two years previously, aged 22 The Bishop of Barrow-in-Furness consecrates the Memorial Chapel in June The construction of a new Quad commences at the back of the Memorial Buildings (Committee Meeting June 1933) With the departure of the Reverend Cedric Sowby from the School, the Warden is given the authority to lease all or part of the ‘Apsley Orchard’ at the most favourable terms possible and ‘to utilise any rooms not so let for accommodating Masters and/or School employees - but the house should only be let for a short term’ (Committee Meeting, October 1933). Eventually Sowby is paid £1305 (£120,321 today) for the house plus a further £18 (£1660 today) for the fixtures by the School (Committee Meeting, December 1933).

1934 - New gates for the Boathouse presented by O.S.E. Masonic Lodge Field next to Lower II converted into further rugby football pitches

In November a valuation of the School buildings is carried out by E.J. Brooks & Son of Oxford, Auctioneers, Surveyors and Valuers, for the Governors. The particulars are listed as follows (Box 303): - The Main Buildings comprising the Warden’s House, Masters’ Common Room, Boys’ Day Rooms, Studies, Dining Hall, Kitchen and Domestic Offices, Dormitories (118 Beds), Masters’ Bedrooms,

Recreation Rooms, Bath Rooms etc. Range of Lavatories. The Indoor Swimming Pool with Mosaic floor and surround. Boiler House. Boys’ Changing Rooms.

Tuck Shop (with living room for staff over). Sanatorium Annex, Sanatorium (24 Beds). Chapel (with ante-Chapel, Vestry and Memorial Side Chapel). Isolation Hospital (20 Beds). Armoury; Shed (used as Store and Sports Room). Instructional Carpenter’s Shop. Big School (including the Old Library, Gallery, Class Room and School Hall). Instructional Block (including Class Rooms, Library etcetera).