Clarendon School for Girls

Clarendon School for Girls was a girls' independent private school in the UK which began in 1898 in Malvern, Worcestershire. It moved three times: first to Kinmel Hall near Abergele in Denbighshire in 1948 and then to Haynes Park in Bedfordshire in 1976 before merging with Monkton Combe School, near Bath, Somerset in 1992.[1]

Foundation of Clarendon School in Malvern, Worcestershire in 1898

Clarendon School was established in a private house in North Malvern, Worcestershire in 1898 by Miss Amy Flint, assisted by her sisters Annie and Mary. The first pupils were seven boarders aged between six and sixteen. The Misses Flint were the daughters of an Evangelical Christian travelling preacher and embedded their strong Christian values and ethos in the day-to-day operation of their new school.[2] Miss Amy Flint remained as headmistress of Clarendon School until her retirement in 1930. She died in 1942.

The move to Abergele, Denbighshire in 1948

During World War II the school numbers grew to such an extent that new, larger premises had to be found. Some 150 girls were living in eleven houses around Malvern, and the school could not operate efficiently. Kinmel Hall, Abergele in Denbighshire was selected to house Clarendon School, with Sir John Laing (businessman) stepping in to provide support. The school moved from Malvern to Abergele in twenty Pickfords removal lorries in April 1948 - its fiftieth anniversary year.[3]

The move to Haynes Park, Bedfordshire in 1976

In 1956 the Clarendon School Trust was established, taking the school out of private ownership.[2] In September 1975 a large fire devastated the central part of Kinmel Hall. Meanwhile, Hawnes House School[4] at Haynes Park in Bedfordshire had become bankrupt and its fine buildings had become available. So in early 1976, Clarendon School moved to Haynes Park.

The merger with Monkton Combe School in 1992

In 1992 Clarendon School agreed to merge with Monkton Combe School, an independent boys' school based just outside Bath, Somerset which had been founded in 1868. The two schools shared the same aims and Christian ethos and as Monkton Combe School had taken the decision to become fully co-educational that same year the merger was swift.

Clarendon House at Monkton Combe School

The name of Clarendon School continues as the name of one of three girl's boarding houses at Monkton Combe School.[5]

Old Clarendonians

Reunions of "Old Clarendonians", the former staff and pupils of Clarendon House School, are organised by Monkton Combe School. In 2018 the 120th anniversary of the founding of Clarendon House School at Malvern was celebrated with a reunion held at Monkton Combe School which was attended by sixty five former pupils and staff.[6]

Famous Clarendonians

Children's author and missionary, Patricia St. John, was a house mother at Clarendon School in the 1940s, when it was run by her aunt. Princess Hirut Desta, grand-daughter of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

References
  1. LeRoy, Peter (2017). A Delightful Inheritance. Bath, Somerset: Monkton Combe School Enterprises. ISBN 199986980X.
  2. "A History of Clarendon School". Monkton Combe School. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  3. Jones, Colin (2009-12-18). "Rhyl Life: CLARENDON SCHOOL / KINMEL HALL". Rhyl Life. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  4. "Haynes Park - Haynes Church End, Bedfordshire, UK - Pre-Victorian Historic Homes on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  5. "Monkton Combe School, Bath - Clarendon House". www.monktoncombeschool.com. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  6. "Monkton Combe School". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
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