BLETCHLEY & FENNY STRATFORD SCHOOLS

late nineteenth century to present day


DUNMORE HOUSE SCHOOL

Now Bletchley Conservative Club

The Census for 1881 records a family named Holloway living at Simpson Village, Simpson, Bucks, England. The head of the family was Alfred Holloway (schoolmaster), born about 1853 at Devises, Wiltshire together with his wife, Sarah J., who was also born about the same time at Paulerspury, Northamptonshire. Their son, William G. C. born about 1880 at Colnbrook, Middlesex, was living with them too. This is the only reference available of William G. C.

The location of their first school is unclear at the present time, but is thought to have been started in a house known as Dunmore House.

In 1883, Dunmore House School, the first of two private colleges was built by Mr & Mrs Alfred Holloway.

December 18th 1886 - In connection with the 12th half-yearly prize day, a gathering of friends of the pupils assembled in the schoolroom of Dunmore House School, Bletchley on Wednesday last. This was in response to an invitation by Mr & Mrs Holloway, the principals. Prizes were awarded for shorthand, music, French and Ornamental Writing, amongst other subjects. In addition two special prizes were awarded, two silver engraved watches, for proficiency in bookkeeping. Entertainment was provided by the school band and after tea a dance was held in the evening.

For 1887 recorded in the ‘Directories of Bletchley and Fenny Stratford’, - copies of which are held by Bletchley Library - is the listing: Holloway, Alfred, schoolmaster, Dunmore House School.

March 26th 1887 - Dunmore House Schools (30 Boarders). Mr & Mrs A. Holloway are the principals with 18 years’ experience. There are six resident masters and governesses. Also a resident French master, himself a Frenchman. Preparation is carried out for Civil Service exams. The building is a ‘Handsome residence replete with every Comfort & Convenience, erected expressly for the Reception of Young Ladies & Gentlemen. Separate Departments’.

July 9th 1887- Mr & Mrs Holloway of Dunmore House Schools, Bletchley are taking their usual summer trip to the Continent for one month, commencing on August 1st. They will take charge of one or two additional children under 14 years for an inclusive charge of £6 6s.

July 30th 1887- Dunmore House Schools on Wednesday, July 27th celebrated their 13th half yearly Prize Day. About 40 parents and visitors attended. The Rev. H. S. Smith gave out the prizes including a 3-guinea silver watch, engraved to Miss Louie Thomas for proficiency in book-keeping, both single and double entry. Entertainments then followed including recitals, songs, etc.

September 24th 1887 - Advert. Dunmore House Schools (30 boarders). Principals: Mr & Mrs A. Holloway. Twenty years’ experience.

November 26th 1887- Advert: Dunmore House School. Six resident masters and governesses. French conversation, shorthand, bookkeeping by single and double entry, Latin and German thoroughly taught. Pupils of both sexes prepared for the Civil Service, Royal Veterinary College and Commercial Houses.

December 22nd 1888 - Details of Dunmore House School prize day are given.

January 19th 1889 - ‘Lexicon of Conversational French’, 2nd edition, bound in cloth, 374 pages with gilt letters is available at 4s. Produced by Mr Alfred Holloway, assisted by three French professors ‘with Interlinear Pronunciation’, it may be obtained from Dunmore House.

January 4th 1890 - Advert. ‘Notice to Parents.’ Mr Holloway of Dunmore School ‘desires to intimate to parents’ in Fenny Stratford, Bletchley and neighbourhood that from January 1st 1890, the inclusive fee of £2 15s and that of £1 10s, now charged for General Subjects, will be reduced to £2 2s and £1 1s respectively, for Day Scholars per term of 16 weeks. This will include tuition in shorthand, French, bookkeeping and four piano lessons a week. In addition to the usual hours of instruction all pupils are entitled to attend from 6-7pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings for private study with the boarders, under the supervision of a teacher. Pupils are prepared amongst other ambitions for Certificates in the Society of Sciences, Kensington, Pitman’s, The ‘Phonetic’ Society and the Civil Service. The three terms a year commence on January 1st, May 1st and September 1st. Alfred Holloway, FRSL, Fs.Sc.Lond., Dunmore House School.

June 1890: ‘Tenders are invited for the erection of a residence on Bletchley Road. The plans and specifications are to be seen at Dunmore House with Mr A. Holloway.’

July 11th 1890- The 19th half-yearly prize day of Dunmore House School was celebrated on Thursday last. The Society of Science, Kensington awarded fourteen certificates for Practical Music and six Pitman’s Certificates of Proficiency in Shorthand by the Phonetic Society of Great Britain & Ireland were awarded. A short musical programme was then given, followed by tea and at 10pm, Supper Dances and other diversions brought proceedings to a close at 3am. The pupils will new begin their six-week vacation, returning on September 2nd.

September 26th 1890 - Miss M. E. Kenning of Dunmore House School, Bletchley was awarded a bronze medal at Addison Hall, Kensington by the Society of Science for Practical Music.

January 9th 1891 - Dunmore House School held its 20th half-yearly prize day on Thursday, December 18th.

April 10th - Plans were submitted for a large building for a college for A. Holloway, of Dunmore College.

At the time of the 1891 Census the family were staying with a William Lepper, builder, at 19 Millbrook Road, Bedford ‘as visitors’ . William Lepper (whose place of birth is given as Paulerspury, Northants, may have been related to Sarah Holloway). At this address also were his wife Elizabeth and their five children. Also living here were Alfred Holloway, schoolmaster, Sarah J. Holloway (aged 38), Florence E. (8, scholar), Katie (5, scholar), Lillie (or Liller!) (3), Alfred T. L. (2), Eugenie (1); plus Ada Harris, (13, neice), born at Bath, Wilts; all told total of 15 under one roof. Maybe their visit to was due to the disruption of having a new school built?

August 28th 1891 - Dunmore College, Bletchley, established 101/2 years, ‘For Young Ladies & Gentlemen (Separate Schools)’. Principal Alfred Holloway, FRSL, 25 years’ experience, ‘Composer; and Author of “Conversational French”, 4th Edition, 4s.’ ‘N.B. The handsome New College, containing 21 rooms, will (DV) be opened at Christmas.’

October 30th 1891- The new buildings for Dunmore College are now being constructed.

May 11th 1892 - A tea, entertainment and dance were given at the new buildings for Dunmore College, soon to be formally opened.

1895 - Source: ‘Directories’: Holloway, Alfred, boarding school (mixed), Dunmore College; Holloway, Fdk, Highfield, Bletchley Road.

Certificate of Merit awarded to William George in 1895.

Copy of original certificate awarded to William George in July 1895

Sarah J. Holloway must have been a remarkable woman, for not only was she a teacher and head of the Girls’ department and involved with all aspects of the school but by the time of the 1901 Census had given birth to Francis G., her seventh child!

1903 - commercial: Holloway (Mrs) & Prof. Alfred, Ladies’ College, Bletchley Road; Holloway, Sebastian Fdk, Boys’ Commercial College, Bletchley Road.

During this decade, Sebastian Fdk Holloway joins the team. His relationship to Alfred is not known, but later he became head of the Boys’ school.

1911 - private residence, Holloway, Alfred, Bletchley Hall, Bletchley Road; commercial: Holloway (Mrs) & Prof. Alfred, Ladies’ College, Bletchley Hall, Bletchley Road.

1920 - private residence, Holloway, Alfred, 75 Bletchley Road.

In June 1920, on directions from Mrs Richard Selby-Lowndes, Elmers was put up for sale. Due to the success of Dunmore College, Professor and Mrs Holloway needed larger premises and they acquired the property.

In 1922 Elmers reopened as Bletchley Grammar School (founded in 1883); Principal: S. H. Still, MCP.

Elmers was subsequently requisitioned by the government just prior to the outbreak of hostilities and became part of Station X at Bletchley Park.


Sources :Directories, & Newspaper reports taken from North Bucks FlyingPost and North Bucks Times

For information about Dunmore House School, visit the following websites.