The Independent School

The History of the Independent School from the 19th Century to the end of the Second World War.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, though it possessed many houses in France, the Congregation of Christian Education had no foundation abroad. However, political events in France pointed to the possibility that religious orders might be expelled, so Superiors began to look for a possible refuge abroad. Mother Duval, then Superior General of the Congregation, had always felt an attraction towards England so her thoughts to a new foundation pointed in this direction.

Various houses were visited in Farnborough but none seemed suitable. However, Mother Duval had set her heart upon the original 'Hillside' - though there seemed no prospect that it would ever come into her hands. The house was small but sufficient for the new foundation, but it was not until the early spring of 1889 that the property fell vacant and the nuns were able to acquire it.

Hillside was built on Star Hill, immediately opposite the site of the present Farnborough College of Technology and next door to the Rushmoor Borough Council Offices. The original buildings have been demolished, but the extension built by the nuns has recently been refurbished and is now used as an office building. Its present occupant is Nokia.

Three nuns came to Farnborough on 1st May 1889 and took possession of their new convent, accompanied by their first pupil, Joesephine Murray. The school was opened on 15th May and the first day-boarder attended from 9am to 7pm. A separate day school was soon opened in a smaller house in the grounds, but the number of pupils increased so that in only three years from its foundation it was necessary to build more accommodation - the red brick school and chapel that became 'Hillside College' until it was sold to the Royal Aircraft Establishment in 1945 for a technical college.

A further building - St Mary's Day School - was built by the nuns in 1899. That building later became Farnborough Secondary School (1926) and was located on the site of the Farnborough Technical College.

During the First World War - in 1915 - the Military Authorities commandeered the Convent and the Day-School, and for the duration of the war the buildings were known as Star Hill barracks. The main body of the Community moved to Sycamore House in Farnborough Park in November of that year.

The old school buildings were returned after the end of the War, though the buildings were not without traces of their war work. After some delay caused by the formalities involved in getting compensation, it was decided to use the old convent building as a school and retain Sycamore House as a residence for the nuns and boarders. The building was renovated and on 23rd September 1921 it was re-opened under the title of Hillside Convent College. The boarding and day schools were amalgamated under the headship of Mother Alma Mason. Two visits by His Majesty's inspectors in 1922 and 1923 resulted in the formal recognition of Hillside Convent College by the Board of Education in December 1923.

When Farnborough Hill came onto the market in 1926, Mother Roantree had already decided that they would need to extend their original building or move to another property. She took the opportunity offered, and negotiations brought about the speedy acquisition of Farnborough Hill.

The house was in perfect condition, having been kept in order by a staff of five servants whose duties were to keep the rooms aired and dusted and shutters closed while the family was absent. It contained 90 rooms and must have seemed enormous at the time of its purchase, but even an imperial mansion is eventually outgrown by a flourishing school. Plans were soon made for an extension and one of the best architects in England, Mr Adrian Gilbert-Scott, was called in. He drew up plans for a church that would hold more than five hundred people to be joined to the existing building.

Post-war building at Farnborough Hill was held up for seven years but finally a permit came through in 1952 for a much needed block of eight classrooms to run parallel with the chapel. Adrian Gilbert-Scott set to work on it immediately and the new block was occupied in September 1953.