The picture clearly shows a building described as 'Charney Hall Memorial Hall'. But where is it? Until the 1970s (I think) there was in Grange over Sands a private preparatory school called Charney Hall. Sadly the entire school complex was subsequently demolished and is now a series of residential buildings.
During the early years of the last century the school was run by George Podmore, who describes himself on the 1901 census as MA Oxon, Private Schoolmaster, with the help of assistant master, George Antrobus . There were some 20 boarders including a number of the Wordsworth family. A number of local gentry families sent their sons here to prepare them for one of the greater public schools. In due course many of these joined the forces and it is thus no suprise to find in Grange parish church a memorial to old boys killed in the Boer War. Indeed, the church also holds the battlefield cross of Hubert Podmore, one of George's four sons, who was killed around Ypres in 1917. (For details see : http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=84095 )
However, there is no memorial that I am aware of to the old boys who were killed in the Great War. I find that strange and thus wonder whether the above picture is in fact the school's Great War Memorial. A contemporary OS map shows an isolated building to the north east of the main house which seems to have the same shape and plan as the photo.
I have made some rather desultory enquiries in the town but no-one seems terribly interested or to have any memories of the school prior to its demise. But surely the school had a memorial?
7 comments:
Hello, My name is Michael Shannon, I attended Charney Hall private Prep School 1968- 1969 as a "Day Boy". Boarders lived in the main school building, above the dining rooms. The building shown is indeed the Memorial Hall . It was used daily for morning assembly and private piano lessons for the boys, who attended the school up until the Common Entrance exam age of 13! It is indeed correctly identified on your map . During the summer months I recall hundreds of butterflies covering the vegetable garden used for the school kitchen next to the open air swimming pool and behind the Memorial Hall. The building to the north west of the Memorial Hall was a joinery shop also housing carbouys of pool chemicals, and where us boys built our tuck boxes to take on to our next larger boarding school, I still have mine here ! There was also in there the school rifle club armoury - very insecure - I recall it opened just with a screwdriver !! and contained at least 4 rifles and hundreds of rounds of live .22 ammunition. I spent many hours digging spent bullets from the rifle range - located south of your map - but still on the school estate, and melting them into lead ingots during chemistry lessons in the science lab- that house is seen on your picture north of and behind the Mem Hall , and still stands today. After I returned to the school in about 1973, I distinctly remember being told by a workman that the wooden Memorial Hall Boards naming the Fallen from the Wars, were being placed in the cricket Pavilion , before being moved on to St Pauls Church at Grange for safe keeping. Sadly the school was knocked down and the entire area became a then modern housing Estate.
Michael,
Brilliant! I have followed it up by again visiting St Paul's church. However, although there are a number of memorials (Boer, Maj Podmore, WW2) still nothing from WW1. Could you describe the wooden boards you mention in some more detail?
In the Kendal Record Office there are Building Registers for Grange which may show when the Memorial Hall was built. Ref: WSUD/G/acc1998/Register No.1 Building Plans (you may need to see the 2nd as I'm not sure what date this one goes up to). Unfortunately not everything has been recorded in the register but it's certainly worth a look.
I have asked a friend of mine, who lives near the site of the old school, whether he knows anything about the recording of old boys' names etc., but he doesn't recall anything.
Great to bump into you at the study day in Lancaster.
Ruth
Ruth! Thanks - I will try that next time I get to the archives. You once put me onto a memorial at Croppers! Do you still have the ref?
hello ..i live on the site of the old school [ charney court ] i to have recently bought the same memorial hall postcard for posterity and intend enlarging it
Re: War Memorial at Croppers - I found the reference in the company's archived Minute Book No. 1, date 22nd February 1922 AGM of Shareholders. The minute notes:
'A tablet recording the names of the fallen was placed on the walk of the Office of the Company last Easter'. There had been no meetings during 1921 and I have found no other reference to the war memorial.
I think I have a database with the names of the war dead - not on my computer though, I think I have it stored on an external drive. If that is of any use to you let me know.
Ruth
FROM DAVID PHELAN FURTHER TO MY LAST using os map and google earth and overlays i can confirm the memorial halls position to be partly on the road and skirting the driveway to no 3 CHARNEY COURT not a lot of help i know as its gone but its nice to know where it was in relation to the school .. my friend lives on the tennis court
i am relegated to the sports field
keep on searching
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