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

P AGE N O : 58 An enquiry made by Messrs. Bucknell & Ballard to the School for ‘any land’ it would be prepared to sell for the erection of ‘good class flats’, to which the School offers the Field House vegetable garden area and/or at Apsley Gate, Apsley Orchard ‘as far as the fence’ (General Purposes Meeting, July 1937). This offer is not taken up The possibility of the School purchasing No. 236 Woodstock Road, currently on the market, turned down by the Governors (General Purposes Meeting July, 1937). 1938 - First part of the kitchen enlargement (northwards) completed ( Brook Kitchin / H.M. Best design ). A central wall has been removed together with a chimney ‘overhead’ and four Esse Major stoves replace the old range. A completely new steam cooking plant installed and lighting improved by inserting a large window at the northern end and a new room for preparing vegetables added. Part of the costs involved come from the School Shop To commemorate the death of Wilfrid Cowell in 1937, the School decides that a wrought iron gateway in his name should be erected between the School grounds and the Woodstock Road, replacing the existing ‘ordinary driving entrance’. An appeal to cover the costs sent to all O.S.E. to cover the estimated £450 (£41,490 today) cost (June Chronicle) Chapel ceiling whitened and two canopied stalls at the Chancel steps removed, the costs borne by the Chairman of Governors Additional W.C. provided in the Memorial Buildings (Jack Tate list 1955) First mention made of taking air raid precautions at the School (General Purposes Meeting, May 1938). Any such precaution is put on hold ‘until it was decided what action will be taken by the Oxford Colleges in this matter’ (General Purposes Meeting, February 1939) ‘The work in the kitchens has been finished and the results are very good. The Chef and kitchen staff carried on through a very difficult time and deserve great credit for their efforts’ (Warden at Governors’ Meeting, June 1938) Report of Inspectors in March 1938 concludes:- ‘The Governors can be proud of the fact that their bold policy during these past ten years has helped develop a hut-taught, under-housed and suburban School of 230 boys, into a well-equipped, well-housed School of 370 boys, which has forced its way back into the country again’ (Governors’ Meeting, June 1938). 1939 - ‘Wilfrid Cowell’ Gates opened by the Princess Royal on 23 rd June, although the appeal still £28 (£2 542 today) short of the targeted requirement Plans announced to extend the Boathouse ‘for the proper housing of boats and to give Beesley (the Boatman) adequate working room for repairs’ (July Chronicle). School Governors consider the purchase of a 5 acre field next to the Boathouse for about £500 (£45,400 today) (Governors’ Meeting June, 1939) School acquires 32 Oakthorpe Road (Box 15) from the Chairman of Governors School purchases two steel shelters to accommodate 50 persons each at a cost of £49 (£4,449 today) each (Governors Meeting, June 1939) Corfe House let to pupils of the evacuated Preparatory School St. Bede’s of Eastbourne (Jack Tate list 1955).