Charney Hall School, Grange-over-Sands

Credit : OS 1970 It was only in hindsight and with the passage of what has seemed to be a lifetime that I have begun to accept what I once saw as gross dereliction of duty and an act of incredible cruelty by my parents. I  was the eldest of three brothers and therefore first in line to be given the chance of a life away at boarding school. What  had  I done wrong? I cannot remember any discussion taking place - the answers to the ‘whys and wherefores’ it appeared, were preordained. What I perceived as my parents ‘copping out’ was, it seemed, to be for my own good. One minute I was attending a popular private day school located on busy Manchester Road, Burnley and the next I was disembarking from my parents’ car on the tarmac drive of Charney Hall Preparatory School for Boys, Grange-over-Sands, generously suited in grey with pristine white shirt, grey socks, black shoes and an undistinguished maroon tie. Ready for CH The shock and anxiety that I must have experienced has o...

Hello – I was in Grange unexpectedly on Tuesday and took a few photos of what remains of the school for those who might be interested!   So I was in Scotland earlier this week and unexpectedly found myself able to get away for a day, so hurried down the M6 to visit family in Ulverston and pay a quick visit to Grange on the way back out.  Up at the top of Charney Well Lane it’s always a shock seeing those bungalows at the top of what used to be the drive.  But at least The Lodge and Grove House are much as they ever were, so I took a few photos to share.  The one taken over the gate of the Lodge shows the stone wall of the embankment upon which the pool was built though I suppose the wooden fence at the top is much more recent.   The back of the Lodge is unchanged with the small room that was Charlie and Herbert’s kitchen / rest area, and there is a now-huge cedar tree by the back gate beneath which I and several others crouched in the dark one cold evening waiti...

Updated 12 May 2024 : post completed Tilak sent me earlier details of a portrait of Hubert Podmore found at Rugby School. He taught there and ‘findinglouis1916’ has posted an interesting article about him. This includes some information that we already know about. However Hubert deserves space here so in preparation for a future post here is the portrait.  About the artist : William Edwards Miller (1851-1940)  He was primarily a society portrait painter but also known as an antiquarian horological collector. This painting is dated 1918 so it is highly probable that William painted it postumously from a photograph (perhaps as a memorial) Documents added 12 May 2024:   This is the cross marking the original grave in Flanders and can be viewed in the North Aisle at St Paul’s Church, Grange  

People will say ‘it’s another red herring…’ well I suppose it is. However every surviving Old Boy of Charney Hall should know something about the town Grange which was our ‘home’ for around 5 of our formative years. The following articles will equip the reader with enough information to astound even the most ardent Conservation Planner in South Lakes District Council or enable him to hold court, earning many a free drink, in any of the residents’ lounges in any of the historic Grange hotels, posing as ‘after dinner speaker’… The Time Line of Grange - See also ‘CHARNEY HALL Chronology’ Credit : Pat Rowland, W E Swale The Architecture and Architects of Grange-over-Sands Credit : Chris Wright …and last but not least two photographs which I have just enhanced with AI software and further improved by digital painting. The first is probably the oldest School Year photograph in existence being taken around 1896, only 7 years after  completion of the new building. The AI software is bril...

The Hazelmere Café  I’m sure that this must have been here well before 1973 as it has a bakery attached Credit : Google Earth John has been in contact several times in the last few years. Indeed we met up about 2 years ago when he was visiting Grange and had an enjoyable morning over coffee and cakes, talking CH, in the Hazelmere Bakery and Teahouse which is tucked under the glazed arcade, opposite the Duck Pond. Having checked through some of his emails I have extracted some of his ‘finds’ (and yes it does remind me of the processes normally associated with archeology and metal detecting!).  ‘Schools in Grange-over-Sands and Kent’s Bank’ credit : Cartmel Peninsula Local History Society. https://cplhs.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/peninsula-schools.pdf Here is the entry for Charney Hall: Letters from abroad…Roger Beaumont (abt 1957/60) John’s Book Prize John’s prize for winning the Charney Hall Junior Singing Competition in 1968. He says that it was the only prize...

 Just found this photograph of JRH on the internet - I often wondered what he did in his spare time …! Now we know… I thought that people might like to see this as it’s a press photo, good resolution and ideal for enhancing with my AI App. He looks slightly younger than I remember him and Invicta is a different colour - I thought that she was powder blue. I’ll file it away for now and perhaps add it to past or future posts.

  Tilak   Paul  Charney  Hall 1967-1971 Ref l e ctions Part II  and Comments on Previous Reflections   I am not sure what the etiquette and form is of posting a comment on ones own piece supported by Sven and Keith’s input but I have  realised  that whilst  it took only about 45  mins   or so  to write the  previous Reflections Post ,  unfortunately  due to laziness and procrastination and other chores and duties on my part it, took  me  nearly 4 years to list the subjects that I wanted to write a piece about, and after all that I have  still  forgotten to add so many other memories  and anecdotes   which have come to my mind  since  so I trust all  Old Boys of  Charney  Hall “CH” will forgive me this additional  Tilak  Paul Reflections  Part II,  final  “belt and braces” job Post . I tried to add this  piece  to the Blog Po...