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

P AGE N O : 9

‘Considerable progress has been made laying out the Quadrangle. The roads are nearly finished and the planting will be done this winter’ (November Chronicle) ‘In 1879, there were no omnibuses, no trams, and practically no bicycles. Oxford ended on the Woodstock Road at Rackham’s Lane (later St. Margaret’s Road). Beyond the lane was open country. There was a footpath without lamps, but with horse-posts. Beyond the allotments was the wide expanse of Diamond Farm, nearly all open grass fields. The old grey stone buildings of the farmhouse stood on the Banbury Road side, just where Rawlinson Road now enters it. There were no buildings and no crossroads till you came to South Parade, along the south side of which ran the buildings of St. Edward’s and after a gap the old vicarage. The School buildings then consisted of the Main Buildings (but only half of the present Warden’s House) and the Chapel. Between these and the crossroad was a short line of low erections - a diminutive ‘shop’ with one small window, and an open shed, known as the Covered Playground. Behind the Chapel was a kitchen garden, with a greenhouse along the only wall - that facing the street - and a row of pig-sties at right angles to it. If you walked out from Oxford, you might meet a postman with a lantern - never a policeman!’ (Cowell, December 1930 Chronicle) Cowell’s memories also state that the Quad had just been laid out and was no longer used as a playground and the cricket field opposite had just been enlarged ‘up to the Keble Field’. The School entrance then was a small gate ‘exactly opposite the end of the long Main Buildings passage’. The Lodge and the School wall along the Woodstock Road was replacing the old hedge, but was unfinished. ‘Indoors, the main room extended from (the then existing) Tilly’s Junior Room to Mr. Yorke’s sitting room - and in this dwelt all the boys except the Second Form, who had one-third of Cowell’s Senior Room, and a third of Tilly’s Senior Room. The latter were proud and exclusive, (they owned a chessboard) and ‘are said to have taken in a daily paper’ * ‘The organist, Dr. Iliffe, and two other Masters lived in the Main Buildings. Three others lived in what now is the Liberal Club in George Street, and the Head Master (Dalton) in South Lawn, at the corner opposite the new garage, The Matron’s Room was at the back of the Warden’s House’. ( *The above extracts were from Cowell’s original memories after his first visit to the School for interview in 1879 as well as later memories and printed in Chronicles in 1930-31, so the descriptions are from that date) 1880 - Entrance gates to the Woodstock Road hung, made of ‘very heavy English Oak, very massive, and will be worthy of their prominent position when the whole of the School buildings are complete’ (March Chronicle). These are the gates in the arch of the Lodge A second and more robust Cricket Pavilion is built in the eastern side of the Keble Grounds (or ‘Pound Ground’), standing on the same side as the existing one, but a few yards further north and facing due east instead of south-east as before’ (March Chronicle). The building is broken into in July but the thieves quickly apprehended by the ‘efficiency of the local police’ (July Chronicle) ‘During the holidays the Quadrangle has been laid out and plans for the new buildings on the east side have been completed. These will comprise the Big School (84ft by 28ft), the new Library* (50ft by 24ft), the Masters Common Room (18ft by 24ft) and one Class Room** (17.5ft by 24ft)’. Mr. Franklin of Deddington undertakes this work, which should be finished by the beginning of the Summer Term 1881’ (May Chronicle) ‘The Big School is approached by a handsome flight of stone stairs lit by three large light windows, the tracery of which is in harmony with the windows in School and Library. All these will be filled with cathedral glass, each section bearing one quarter of the Warden’s family arms. The (Big) School itself has a high platform at the northern end which will be useful on all public occasions, and a turret staircase at the back is provided for use at such times. The roof is arched and paneled and the room will be lit by two gas sunlights in the roof. Underneath is the Library, which is intended for the use of Masters and boys who want books of reference, which cannot generally be obtained in private libraries. The ceiling and walls will be panelled, and the bookcases constructed of oak and walnut, with