St Elphin's School: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Former boarding school for daughters of the clergy}} |
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| ⚫ | '''St Elphins School''' was a [[boarding school]] for the daughters of the clergy of the [[Church of England]]. It was originally based in [[Warrington]], [[Lancashire]], England. It moved to [[Darley Dale]], a rural area near [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Matlock]], [[Derbyshire]], in 1904, as the Warrington area had changed from open countryside and become highly industrialised. The school was founded in 1844 but had roots back to 1697.<ref name="Flood">{{Cite web |url=http://www.stelphins.co.uk/images/History/Margaret%20Flood%20book/The%20Story%20of%20St%20Elphin's%20School.html |title=The Story of St Elphin's School, 1844-1944, ML Flood |access-date=2013-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234153/http://www.stelphins.co.uk/images/History/Margaret%20Flood%20book/The%20Story%20of%20St%20Elphin's%20School.html#p=1 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=live |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} |
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{{Use British English|date=February 2023}} |
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| ⚫ | '''St Elphins School''' was a [[boarding school]] for the daughters of the clergy of the [[Church of England]]. It was originally based in [[Warrington]], [[Lancashire]], England. It moved to [[Darley Dale]], a rural area near [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Matlock]], [[Derbyshire]], in 1904, as the Warrington area had changed from open countryside and become highly industrialised. The school was founded in 1844 but had roots back to 1697.<ref name="Flood">{{Cite web |url=http://www.stelphins.co.uk/images/History/Margaret%20Flood%20book/The%20Story%20of%20St%20Elphin's%20School.html |title=The Story of St Elphin's School, 1844-1944, ML Flood |access-date=2013-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234153/http://www.stelphins.co.uk/images/History/Margaret%20Flood%20book/The%20Story%20of%20St%20Elphin's%20School.html#p=1 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=live }}</ref> The school abruptly closed in March 2005 following financial problems. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The school opened on 15 March 1844 in Warrington, dedicated to [[Saint Elphin]] who according to tradition founded |
The school opened on 15 March 1844 in Warrington, dedicated to [[Saint Elphin]] who according to tradition founded [[St Elphin's Church, Warrington|Warrington's parish church]]. In 1857 the objectives of the school were: to provide a good education on advantageous terms: (i) to orphan daughters of clergy from the [[Archdeacon]]ries of [[Manchester]], [[Liverpool]] and [[Chester]]; (ii) to the daughters of clergy still working in these Archdeaconries; (iii) to the daughters of clergy from any diocese.<ref name = "Flood"/> |
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The original site in Warrington was in the country. However, by the turn of the 20th century the area had become industrialised, and the move to the countryside in Darley Dale was made. The building occupied had previously been the Darly Dale Hydro, a [[health spa]].<ref name = "Flood"/> |
The original site in Warrington was in the country. However, by the turn of the 20th century, the area had become industrialised, and the move to the countryside in Darley Dale was made. The building occupied had previously been the Darly Dale Hydro, a [[hydrotherapy]] [[health spa]].<ref name = "Flood"/> |
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Under the headship of [[Catherine Lucy Kennedy]] in 1896–1910, various additional facilities were made to the school and the criteria for pupils were extended to daughters of lay members of the Church of England. |
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In 2003, the school fell into financial difficulties and went into administration with debts of £3 million. A proposal was put forward to develop part of the site for housing and thus raise income to save the school. This was rejected by the local council, and |
In 2003, the school fell into financial difficulties and went into administration with debts of £3 million. A proposal was put forward to develop part of the site for housing and thus raise income to save the school. This was rejected by the local council, and the school closed in 2005.<ref name = "Matlock Mercury1">[http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/news/local-news/st-elphin-s-to-close-1-875078 Matlock Mercury 29 January 2004: ''St Elphin's to close?'', accessed 15 April 2013]</ref> In December 2010 a website was published about the school and is regularly updated with photographs, information, magazines and news items. |
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Following closure of the school, the site was acquired in 2006 and developed into a luxury retirement village, the main building being converted into retirement flats.<ref>{{cite web |title=Audley St Elphin's Park Retirement Village |url=https://www.audleyvillages.co.uk/our-villages/st-elphins-park |website=Audley Villages}}</ref> |
Following the closure of the school, the site was acquired in 2006 and developed into a luxury retirement village, the main building being converted into retirement flats.<ref>{{cite web |title=Audley St Elphin's Park Retirement Village |url=https://www.audleyvillages.co.uk/our-villages/st-elphins-park |website=Audley Villages}}</ref> |
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The old girls and staff of St Elphin's School still maintain strong links with St Elphin's Park Retirement Village through a group set up by former pupil Liz Donlan (nee Bailey, 1967-1973) - The Old Elphinians (TOE). Liz formed the group in October 2012 and has arranged three major reunions at St Elphin's Park in 2012, 2015 and 2019. There was also a reunion in 2013 organised by Lizzy Dickie (nee Atwell) where old girls and staff met at St Elphin's Park for coffee and then moved to a local hall for the main event which was the unveiling of a beautiful St Elphin's School Memorial Quilt which had been made by two old girls in Australia (Ali Biddiscombe (nee Gracie) and Jenny Winkless (nee Gray). It was made out of pieces of original uniform, laundry bags, school bags etc and both Ali and Jenny took it from Australia to the UK for the unveiling by former needlework teacher, Mrs Barling. It is now hung on a wall at St Elphin's Park together with 5 scholarship boards listing girls who gained entrance to University. In the main entrance hall there is the original display cabinet which houses various trophies. Liz Donlan had permission from St Elphin's Park to use it for memorabilia items from school days - trophies, magazines, boaters, speech day programmes, ties and much more. |
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In December 2011 Liz Donlan launched a website for the school - www.stelphins.co.uk - and this is being updated all the time as and when old girls are emptying their lofts and coming across photographs etc from their school days. |
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==Alumni== |
==Alumni== |
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* [[Richmal Crompton]] (1890–1969), English writer of ''[[Just William]]'' |
* [[Richmal Crompton]] (1890–1969), English writer of ''[[Just William]]'' |
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* [[Florence Mahoney]] (1929-) the first [[Gambia]]n woman to obtain a [[PhD]] |
* [[Florence Mahoney]] (1929-) the first [[Gambia]]n woman to obtain a [[PhD]] |
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* Mabel Joyce Maw - member of [[Ferguson's Gang]]<ref>{{Cite book|title = Ferguson's Gang: The Remarkable Story of the National Trust Gangsters|last = Polly Bagnall & Sally Beck |
* Mabel Joyce Maw - member of [[Ferguson's Gang]]<ref>{{Cite book|title = Ferguson's Gang: The Remarkable Story of the National Trust Gangsters|last = Polly Bagnall & Sally Beck|publisher = Pavilion Books|year = 2015|isbn = 978-1909881716|pages = 69 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=psZ7oAEACAAJ}}</ref> |
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* [[Lesley Nicol (actress)|Lesley Nicol]] (1953-) - actress (famous for playing Mrs Patmore in [[Downton Abbey]]) |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[St Elphin's Church, Warrington]] |
* [[St Elphin's Church, Warrington]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Schools in Derbyshire}} |
{{Schools in Derbyshire}} |
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{{coord|53.1555|-1.5807|region:GB-DBY_type:edu|display=title}} |
{{coord|53.1555|-1.5807|region:GB-DBY_type:edu|display=title}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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[[Category:Defunct schools in Derbyshire]] |
[[Category:Defunct schools in Derbyshire]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:53, 18 December 2023
St Elphins School was a boarding school for the daughters of the clergy of the Church of England. It was originally based in Warrington, Lancashire, England. It moved to Darley Dale, a rural area near Matlock, Derbyshire, in 1904, as the Warrington area had changed from open countryside and become highly industrialised. The school was founded in 1844 but had roots back to 1697.[1] The school abruptly closed in March 2005 following financial problems.
History
[edit]The school opened on 15 March 1844 in Warrington, dedicated to Saint Elphin who according to tradition founded Warrington's parish church. In 1857 the objectives of the school were: to provide a good education on advantageous terms: (i) to orphan daughters of clergy from the Archdeaconries of Manchester, Liverpool and Chester; (ii) to the daughters of clergy still working in these Archdeaconries; (iii) to the daughters of clergy from any diocese.[1]
The original site in Warrington was in the country. However, by the turn of the 20th century, the area had become industrialised, and the move to the countryside in Darley Dale was made. The building occupied had previously been the Darly Dale Hydro, a hydrotherapy health spa.[1]
Under the headship of Catherine Lucy Kennedy in 1896–1910, various additional facilities were made to the school and the criteria for pupils were extended to daughters of lay members of the Church of England.
In 2003, the school fell into financial difficulties and went into administration with debts of £3 million. A proposal was put forward to develop part of the site for housing and thus raise income to save the school. This was rejected by the local council, and the school closed in 2005.[2] In December 2010 a website was published about the school and is regularly updated with photographs, information, magazines and news items.
Following the closure of the school, the site was acquired in 2006 and developed into a luxury retirement village, the main building being converted into retirement flats.[3]
Alumni
[edit]- Ruth Adam (1907-1977) Feminist writer
- Richmal Crompton (1890–1969), English writer of Just William
- Florence Mahoney (1929-) the first Gambian woman to obtain a PhD
- Mabel Joyce Maw - member of Ferguson's Gang[4]
- Lesley Nicol (1953-) - actress (famous for playing Mrs Patmore in Downton Abbey)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "The Story of St Elphin's School, 1844-1944, ML Flood". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ Matlock Mercury 29 January 2004: St Elphin's to close?, accessed 15 April 2013
- ^ "Audley St Elphin's Park Retirement Village". Audley Villages.
- ^ Polly Bagnall & Sally Beck (2015). Ferguson's Gang: The Remarkable Story of the National Trust Gangsters. Pavilion Books. p. 69. ISBN 978-1909881716.
