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School Information » History and About us |
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The main building has existed on the present site since 1769, this building was much larger and grander than the present one. Even in those days it cost £70,000 to build and to create the parkland it stood in, from land previously part of the Forest of Bere.
The building itself covered 30,000 square feet on five levels - a Cellar with subterranean tunnels which led to out-buildings; a basement of rooms for the servants and maids; a ground floor which housed the main living area and an enormous Corinthian Hall, which led up to a dome two levels higher - the other floors were for Bedrooms, Dressing Rooms and Closets. |
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This building was pulled down in 1829 and the estate split up when the owner became bankrupt and his creditors became impatient for their money. The estate remained in ruin for ten years before 'Squire' John Deverell bought the estate and much of its land back. He had a new house built about 50 yards further south-east than the original one in 1838-1840.
The building remained in the hands of the Deverell family until 1919 when the estate was sold off at auction because the cost of upkeep was considered too great. The house with four acres of land was sole to Mr Maurice Hill. He also bought a considerable part of the estate. The house remained empty until 1924 when the County Authorities bought the house and four acres of ground for £11,000.
In September of 1924 the house opened as Purbrook Park County High School to accommodate a style of school - a student teacher school, that had already moved from Cosham to Portsdown Hill. The school became very popular and well respected but soon lack of space and facilities became apparent. A building programme was started which involved a new Hall and Gymnasium. (These are now English teaching areas and the Dining Hall). The Hall was completed in 1928 and the Gym in 1935. The school became even larger and 1939 saw the addition of West and East Wings ('A' and 'E' blocks) and a replacement building where the Kitchens (Servants Quarters) had been sited.
Still more room was needed and in 1940 a club in Park Avenue was bought after it had been closed down following a police raid which involved the club losing its licence. This building (the Annexe) became the new Lower School. The Medway huts were added in 1956 and the Hockey Field bought. 1959 saw the Lower School getting their own Hard Courts on the Annexe site, a new Science block added to be followed in 1962 by a new Hall, Gym and 'C' block, much of this built on land where there had been a large Shrubbery - one does not enquire too deeply about 'the Shrubbery!'.
The school was now being hemmed in by house building developments where the parkland once stood In 1978 V' Block was completed as was B12 and the Sports Hall, necessary buildings with the school's numbers having reached close to the thousand mark in 1973.
The drop in pupil numbers in all schools during the mid 1980s enabled the school to have a number of temporary classroom huts removed from the field in 1987.
In 1989 the Main Building of the school was 150 years' old, its exterior renovation was completed, an extension of the West Wing ('A' Block) was also completed, and a total re-development of the school's technical facilities after demolition of the Annexe and sale of the land. |
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