Charney Hall School, Grange-over-Sands

Updated : 26 March 2022 Enormous thanks go to John Cranna who sourced this amazing, possibly unique, piece of Charney history, - a parents’ cricket match most probably in the 1930s, taken with a cine camera by Hilda Edmondson.  The boys haven’t changed much, even the cricket colours cap was the same. But the parents are showing their age with a silver fox fur in evidence, and brimmed, cloche style, summer hats, tailored suits and homburgs being de rigueur ! Afternoon tea looks as though it was served on the tennis court which was in close proximity to the school kitchen. I include John Cranna’s informative comments here: The following are some screen shots from the film which set the scene: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16a47vFX8zzjRD_VzSUO3D3OmR1syezJw/view?usp=drivesdk https://www.zamindarfilms.eu/film-previews

The original planning application proposals for Charney Hall School and Headmasters House have now been received from the Cumbrian Archive Centre (Kendal). The plans dated 1888 and  prepared by the architect, Joseph Pattinson of Windermere, detail the original proposals which were later extended in 1903 with the addition of a Ground Floor Kitchen/Larder and First Floor Servants’ Hall/WC. There are some other drawings in the archive relating to more, as yet unidentified, alterations. It is interesting to see how times have changed - today even the provision of a WC must be accompanied by detailed written specifications, a drainage layout, a justification statement and most probably a Health and Safety Plan!  Here a short note in pencil signed by the Grange Local Board Chairman passes the plans! The UK adopted the metric system way back in 1974. Some manufacturers still produce ‘metric goods’ in imperial dimensions! No longer are hand-drawn drawings considered acceptable as a co...

Updated 18 Apr 2022 : The major’s dog was of course called ‘Curfew’ and not ‘Monty’! Major Trevor Vigne Rabbidge metamorphosed from the British Army into a master at Charney Hall School in the mid-1950s. It was on the 15th May 1945, at the end of WWII, that he reported to the War Office Casualty Branch in London which signified the end of his service as an infantryman in the York and Lancaster Regiment.  The act of military surrender by Germany occurred on the 8th May 1945, just 7 days earlier. The proud Regiment itself would eventually be voluntarily disbanded in 1968 due to reorganisation within the Army. Born on 29 July 1915 in Ulverston he entered the British Army, perhaps as a career soldier, joining the King’s Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) and by 1934 at the age of 19 he had attained the rank of Lieutenant. At the commencement of WWII he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment. Between 1944-1945 Trevor was promoted to Captain and he was subseq...