The
first edition of The Centralian, Hillhouse School's annual
publication, appeared in July, 1934 and continued throughout
the various name changes of the School - from Hillhouse
Central School to Hillhouse Secondary School in 1946, and
then to Hillhouse Secondary Technical School in 1952. Over
those periods the boys remained fundamentally the same -
the usual wit, the usual complaints, the usual "crazes,"
and above all, the usual willingness to respond to a challenge
properly made.
This School Magazine gives some idea, not only of the varied
activities of the School - in that it is a chronicle; but
also of the character, interests, and compositions of the
boys, in that it is an anthology. The magazine bears ample
evidence that Hillhouse was a progressive community where
the "old spirit" continued to glow for many years.
No matter what kind of life you have had led since leaving
school, you will probably look back with nostalgic memories
of the "happiest days of your lives." Many schoolboys
at the time would have been loathe to admit that such "happiness"
had occured, but as the years have passed, the unhappy recollections
would have faded, leaving only the pleasant memories - the
comradeship, the amusing idiosyncrasies of both Masters
and fellow pupils, and the minor troubles and triumphs.
We hope that this section of our website will provide a
little nostalgia. Your "old school" will always
have a place in your hearts and these pages, which we hope
will occasionally be perused, will revive your memories.
Even if you didn't attend Hillhouse School, these pages
are well worth reading, they provide a fantastic insight
into what school life was like through the 1930's, 40's
and 50's.
Remember,
"Vouloir c'est pouvoir".
Click
on one of the links in the "drop-down" menu in
the box below to take you to the first page of that particular
magazine. From that initial page you can then jump to any
page of the magazine you like by clicking on the links at
the bottom of each page.
The
Hillhouse
Taken from "The Centralian", 1935
[ with acknowledgments to Mr. Philip Ahier ]
The
old Hillhouse, now demolished, was built, possibly in
the Tudor period, in King Cliffe, Birkby. Names such as
Hillhouse Lane and Hillhouse Sidings were taken from it.
It was a two-storeyed building, each storey containing
four windows with stout frames, and, like all Elizabethan
houses, all the windows contained diamond-shaped leaded
lights. Part of the building consisted of stables and
outhouses, and behind them stood a barn, for the Hillhouse
was a combination of dwelling house and farmstead. There
was a cottage on the right hand side of the house which
formerly might have housed the servants of the larger
house. A footpath leading to Nanny Croft Lane, named after
"Nanny Croft" which was another name for the
Hillhouse, was diverted in 1902, to the present steps
behind Messrs. Heywood's Glazing Works.
The Hillhouse, or "Nanny Croft" is believed
originally to have belonged to the Brookes of New House,
and in turn to the Townleys, the Wilkinsons, the Whites,
and then the Chamberlains. In 1751 it was sold, along
with other estates to Mr. Thomas Thornhill, Lord of the
Manor of Fixby. It remained in the possession of the Thornhill's
until 1854 when it was sold with some other estates, by
Miss Clara Thornhill to Sir John William Ramsden, Bart.
For nearly two centuries the Hillhouse was occupied by
a family of Brookes. It is not known who the occupiers
were from 1766 to 1850 although the Nobles may have dwelt
there. In 1871 the Hillhouse was demolished by the permission
of Mr. John Edwards in order to extend his building sites.
In 1850 the Hillhouse was used by members of an Anglican
community who eventually formed the nucleus of the present
St John's Church at Bay Hall. After the building of this
church in 1853 the Hillhouse was used by members of a
Baptist community who, for lack of space, later built
a small church in Blacker Road, since transferred to the
present structure in Wheathouse Road.
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