Hillside Prep School, Godalming

[OwlsburyAli]

Can anyone out there tell me where this school was? It was attended by Aldous Huxley, Tyrone Guthrie and Sir John Gielgud among others. And run by a Mr Gidley Robinson. Grateful for any info. Thanks.
Alison

[michaelpipe]

You will find it on the 1901 census

RG13 piece 606 Fol 17 Page 27

This appears to be somewhere between Lower/Upper Manor Road and Farncombe Street, Godalming. Have a look on Mulitmap.

Incidentally, the Huxley family is on the previous page, RG13, 606, 16, 26
And the Headmaster is Gidley Robinson.

Michael

[OwlsburyAli]

Many thanks Michael.

[hillsider]

Hi Alison,
I know exactly where it was as I went to it and, in my time there it was Mr Whicker who was headmaster. It occupied the land to the West of The Close and is now called The Paddock - went down almost as far as Birch Croft. The house was magnificent and was called Crownpits house. There was a miniature railway running the entire perimeter of the very extensive grounds. It was knocked down after it closed in around 1970 and built on. I'm very interested in finding other men who went there as it was such a small school few records exist. Regards

Martin

[Davidrangeley]

I agree with Martin. The school was in The Drive, Busbridge. I was there between 1952 and 1959, joining at the age of 6.5 as my parents were abroad. It had 30 boarders and 30 day boys. Mr Whicker bought the school from my uncle Hamish Campbell. The school used to be on Reigate Hill (hence "Hillside") and moved to Godalming during the war because of the risk of bombing, or so I was told. The school was very good and achieved high Common Entrance results. It was sold for redevelopment I think around 1962 and became a new school plus houses, which was rather a pity because the land was wonderful with two fields and woodland. Whicker worked hard and never really made any money and it was so sad that shortly after selling the land he died. The little railway had gone by the time I joined but bits of rail still turned up. There was also a pony which was used to pull the roller. I am not aware of any school records or alumni organisation.

David Rangeley

[elsinore]

This caught my eye because I lived in Godalming from 1947 to 1960.

Here's a nice piece about Crownpits, which clarifies some confusion:

https://www.thebridgeonline.org.uk/at...f_Hillside.pdf

Peter

[bernardb]

Hi David, I was at hillside school godalming between 65 until closure in 69. Have just recently picked up on this mail and been in contact with Martin. I have the usual annual school photo's during this period and the older one of the school when illustrated under 'crownpits'. I would be interested if you have any other photo's of the house itself/inside or grounds from during your board. Even in its former life when your uncle Hamish was headmaster. I picked up from the white star of 65 that your uncle returned to visit the school at the athletic and speech day from that year. Bernard

[Alpine]

Hi Alison,
I know exactly where it was as I went to it and, in my time there it was Mr Whicker who was headmaster. It occupied the land to the West of The Close and is now called The Paddock - went down almost as far as Birch Croft. The house was magnificent and was called Crownpits house. There was a miniature railway running the entire perimeter of the very extensive grounds. It was knocked down after it closed in around 1970 and built on. I'm very interested in finding other men who went there as it was such a small school few records exist. Regards

Martin

I was at this school for the 4 years prior to it's closing in the Summer of 1969, (I was aged 12) and it was years later that I became aware that the Headmaster had died shortly after the school was closed. There had been talk amongst the boys at the school that the Headmasters son was going to build a house approximately where a tree called 'The Ladybird' was situated, and become the new Headmaster, This did not come to fruition. As memory serves, the last year the school was down to about 30 pupils, a mixture of daily attenders and boarders of which I was a boarder. Mr Redman was the sciences and Maths teacher, I'm sorry but I cant remember the English teachers name (Thacker possibly), but he had a black Labrador and would often go to Canada during school holidays. In the past I have tried to get more information about both my Schools Hillside and Watlands but there is little to be able to find. I would love to know more if at all possible.

[hillsider]

I thought he did build the house as I remember the sadness at losing the tree.

The english teacher was Mr Coates (Latin too) what did Mr Simmonds teach? I know Mrs Whicker taught Piano and singing

Would love to chat more and see if we remember each other - perhaps via email? martin at crocodileproductions dot co dot uk

Best wishes

I was at this school for the 4 years prior to it's closing in the Summer of 1969, (I was aged 12) and it was years later that I became aware that the Headmaster had died shortly after the school was closed. There had been talk amongst the boys at the school that the Headmasters son was going to build a house approximately where a tree called 'The Ladybird' was situated, and become the new Headmaster, This did not come to fruition. As memory serves, the last year the school was down to about 30 pupils, a mixture of daily attenders and boarders of which I was a boarder. Mr Redman was the sciences and Maths teacher, I'm sorry but I cant remember the English teachers name (Thacker possibly), but he had a black Labrador and would often go to Canada during school holidays. In the past I have tried to get more information about both my Schools Hillside and Watlands but there is little to be able to find. I would love to know more if at all possible.