The Skinners' School was opened in 1887. The first headmaster, the Rev. Frederick G. Knott, M.A., served from the opening until 1924!
The "buttressed hall", which is mentioned in the (rather archaic!) school song, had a pipe organ which was removed from St John's Church. The school song also had a line "sentiment is more than skill", a value little demonstrated by the educational approach in force when I was a pupil, although I am assured things are very different now!
The story of the school's birth has been written by Cecil H Beeby, headmaster 1953-1975, in a small booklet, "The Birth of a School or A Tale of Two Townships", published by the author and printed by Kingfisher, Kent. The picture below of the Middle School in 1887 is from this booklet. It is clear the wing at the southern end, which contained the science laboratories, was added at a later date and in a rather less Gothic style than the original building.
Here is a picture from the late 1960s published by Aerofilms & Aero Pictorial Ltd, Elstree Way, Boreham Wood, Herts. The swimming pool is without the covering building which was added in the 1970s. The former Bing Hall, to the right of the school, is now also used as part of the accomodation.
I spent my secondary school years at this establishment, a time which although delivered the necessary 'A' level passes to go on to university, has very few happy memories for me, although I believe things have changed very much for the better at the school these days!
Scanned antique postcards
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