By A.F.R Dale, former Housemaster of Priory House. Priory House had to be pulled down when internal works caused the building to become unsafe.
Priory House
When the House was completed in 1877, the Headmaster (Canon Bell) moved from St. Martin’s House and occupied it for four years until the School House, built on similar lines with separate bed-rooms for the boys, was ready. Then Mr. C. E. Sparkes, who had rented St. Martin’s, moved his boys into the building leaving St. Martin’s empty for two terms and the name Sparkes’ House can be seen on surviving photographs of the period 1881-1894. lt was not until the reign of the next Housemaster that the boys first became known as Prior House and this was under Mr. T. T. Carlyon, who llke the then Housemaster, Canon Compton, came from Uppingham School and who had much influence in building up our traditions. Indeed, a later Housemaster-Mr. C. L. Evans – first served under him on the College staff. Roy Heathcote Hacker was one of the very devoted Old Boys of Carlyon’s period.
Mr. Carlyon left to take up a post at the Naval College at Osborne and again the St. Martin’s Housemaster – the Revd. A. E. Wynne, a Mathematical scholar of Jesus, Cambridge – moved round the Close. “Fusti” Wynne was Housemaster until he moved to Blundell’s School, where he became Headmaster. After his retirement he came back and lived at St. Margaret’s Bay, visiting the College on numerous occasions. He died in 1964 after having reached the ripe old age of I00. He had brought up Priory O.D. s for some seven years, many of whom lost their lives in the First World War. Francis Biddulph is one who can tell us about this period of the House’s history, and we print below some of his impressions.
Then came the Housemastership of Mr. C. L. Evans. His first task was to take the House to Leamington in 1917 and to keep it alive until its return to its own home, which had been occupied by the Pay Corps. Under his guidance, the House continued to flourish and C.L. also spent much time and energy on his work as the Dover Secretary of the O.D. Club and on the College Register of that time. Mrs. Evans produced each year the Priory House plays, which provided a breeding ground for the School actors. ln 1934, he was taken ill and died in the House which he had served for some eighteen years. Cecil Raw was of his time, another devoted O.D. who became Chairman of the Governors.
On C.L.’s death, Mr. Morgan, the Bursar and outstanding rugger coach, took over until Mr. Munns was appointed. Once more the move was from St. Martin’s and now the Houses were organised differently, so that boarding fees went to the College, instead of being paid to the Housemaster.
Mr. Munns took the House to Devonshire, first to Blundell’s and then to Poltimore House. Here the boys had one big room both for recreation and for prep. had dormitories in place of the single rooms they were used to, and studies were non-existent for some time. Mrs. Munns was in charge of the whole domestic side of the College which ate centrally-a Herculean task for a housemaster’s wife.
But war ended at last and the move back to Priory House was immediately organised-the corridors were now “Decks” and the Housemaster’s bedroom labelled “Chief Wren”, for the house had been occupied by the Navy. “Chief Wren” disappeared but Mr. Munns did not object to “Decks” and “Decks” they still are.
Mr. Munns retired in 1947 and the writer of these notes was then appointed. Many Priory O.D.’s came to see the old place after the War and parties of a dozen or more would stay at O.D. Week-ends and relive some of their memories. There was much rebuilding to put right and central heating replaced the dangerous open fires. The cycle shed was rebuilt by the boys, who also decorated studies and prep. room-a tradition still carried on. A subscription list for bunks was opened and soon these were installed in the prep. room and overflowed into the dining room-all are marked with the names of the donors. Rationing continued for some years and it is difficult now to picture how much the ladies of the household had to do behind the scenes.
Then, from the same Oxford College as Mr. Carlyon and the same school as A.D.F.D., Mr. E. L. Wright became Housemaster. Numbers in the House became greater. But this is current affairs and he continues day by day with the thought “May Priory House prosper”.
A.F.R.DALE
[These history articles all come from a publication celebrating the College's 100th Anniversary in 1971]
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I was at Priory from 1950-55 (see Rugby 1953 Hockey and Hockey 1955).
E.L. Wright taught me French and German and got me to Oxford. A great teacher.
Interesting indeed. I was a Priory resident from 1958 – 1963, of course this covered both Mr. A. Dale’s and Mr. E.L Wright’s stewardships. I enjoyed corresponding with the latter until shortly before his death – I regret his passing and feel I owe him much.