Maidwell Hall
Maidwell Hall is a Grade II listed building in Maidwell, West Northamptonshire, England. The mostly 18th-century house was extensively damaged in a fire and remodelled in 1902. It is now Maidwell Hall School, a coeducational preparatory school for boarding and day pupils aged 4–13 which since 2022 has been an affiliate of Uppingham School.
House
[edit]Maidwell Hall dates to 1637.[1] was extensively remodelled in the 18th century and again in 1885 by J.A. Gotch.[2][3] A fire in 1895 largely destroyed the interior and is commemorated by stained glass windows donated to St Mary's church by the lord of the manor, Sir Reginald Loder.[4] The interior was rebuilt in 1902.[2] It was remodelled to house the school in about 1930 and was extended in the 20th century.[3] It became a Grade II listed building on 18 July 1985.[3]
The house is on an H-plan, with square corner towers. It has two storeys and an attic with dormers; the central two-storey porch with balcony and the shaped gable behind it survive from the 17th-century house, as does one wing.[2][3]
School
[edit]Maidwell Hall School was founded as a boys' preparatory school in 1911.[5] It moved to Maidwell Hall in 1933 and became co-educational in 2010.[6][7][8] In 2022, the school merged with Uppingham School in Rutland.[9][10]
Oliver E.P. Wyatt (1898 – 1973), the long-time headmaster, served as chair of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools in 1944 and 1948, contributed evidence to the Fleming Report on public school and general education prepared by David Fleming in 1944, and co-authored a book on preparatory schools published in 1951.[11] He was also a prominent horticulturalist.[12][13] A variety of Clematis vine, C. micropetala, vine is named after the hall,[14] perhaps as a product of Fleming's interest. In 1963 he was succeeded as headmaster by John "Jack" Porch (d. 2022), who retired in 1978.[15][16] Anthony Rendall became headmaster in 2022.[9]
At least one reunion of pupils who attended the school was advertised in the London times.[17]
Abuse at the School
[edit]Memoirs published in the 21st century by two former boarders have described harsh corporal punishment at the school: by Andrew Motion in 2006, about the Wyatt era[18][19] and by Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer in 2024, about the Porch era.[15] Spencer also wrote of having been sexually abused by a female staff member at Maidwell.[20] In response to Spencer's book, the school issued a statement of apology for "practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time" and noting that wideranging changes made to life at the school had as their primary purpose "the safeguarding of children and promotion of their welfare."[7] The spokesman also said that the school had reported the allegations to the local authority for investigation.[7][21] Northamptonshire Police announced in June 2024 that they had begun an investigation.[22][23] The police note they have not received any formal complaints, but vow to believe anyone who comes forward with information of the abuse they may have undergone.[24]
Notable students
[edit]- Sir Adam Butler[25]
- Matthew Fort[19]
- Andrew Motion[19]
- William Sitwell[26]
- Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer[20]
- James Taylor, cricketer[27]
References
[edit]- ^ History, Topography, and Directory of Northamptonshire, 2nd ed. London: Francis Whellan, 1874, OCLC 58444569, p. 836.
- ^ a b c Nikolaus Pevsner, Northamptonshire, The Buildings of England, 2nd ed. rev. Bridget Cherry, 1973, repr. New Haven / London: Yale University, 2002, ISBN 0-300-09632-1, p. 302.
- ^ a b c d Maidwell Hall School: Official List Entry, Historic England, retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ St Mary the Virgin Church: Turn of the Century, Maidwell, archived from the original on 23 October 2010.
- ^ Donald Leinster-Mackay, The Rise of the English Prep School, London / Philadelphia: Falmer – Taylor & Francis, 1984, ISBN 0-905273-74-5, p. 339.
- ^ Maidwell Hall, Maidwell, archived from the original on 23 October 2010.
- ^ a b c Isaac Zamet, "Earl Spencer reveals sickening details of school-time abuse in memoir", Tatler, 11 March 2024.
- ^ The Independent Schools Guide 2011–2012, London: Gabbitas and Kogan Page, 2012, ISBN 978-0-7494-6418-9, p. 127.
- ^ a b Will Jefford, "Primary schools merge in bid to 'strengthen' future for pupils", Northants Live, 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Maidwell Hall to merge with Uppingham School", Uppingham School, 9 February 2022.
- ^ Leinster-Mackay, pp. 256, 258, 269.
- ^ O.E.P. Wyatt, Glossary, Rare Plants, retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ A. Banfield, "A Case Study: Oliver E P Wyatt – Horticulturist and galanthophile", Planting Partners, January 2015.
- ^ Pavord, Anna (February 21, 2004). "When to Prune Clematis". The Independent [London].
- ^ a b Charles Spencer, A Very Private School: A Memoir, New York / London: Gallery, 2024, ch. 4.
- ^ Mary Porch, "(John) Alexander Hector 'Alec' Porch", Obituaries, Old Members, Report, 2021–22, Trinity College, Oxford, pp. 70–71.
- ^ "Maidwell Hall". The Times [London]. 1985 [September 23, 1985].
- ^ Langdon Hammer, "Childhood, Interrupted": Review of In the Blood: A Memoir of My Childhood, by Andrew Motion, The New York Times Book Review, 3 February 2008.
- ^ a b c Tom Fort, "That's quite enough poetic licence, Mr Motion", The Guardian, 24 December 2006 (opinion).
- ^ a b Charlotte Gallagher & James Gregory, "Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer says he was sexually abused at boarding school", BBC News, 10 March 2024.
- ^ Martin Evans, "Earl Spencer's sexual abuse allegations reported to local authority", The Telegraph, 10 March 2024.
- ^ Sam Hall, "Police investigating historical abuse allegations at Earl Spencer's school", The Independent, 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Police investigate historical abuse at Earl Spencer's boarding school", The Telegraph, 10 June 2024 (subscription required).
- ^ Stephens, Max; Evans, Martin (March 19, 2024). "Earl Spencer's child abuse allegations at boarding school under investigation by police". The Telegraph. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ Andrew Roth, Obituary: Sir Adam Butler, The Guardian, 14 January 2008.
- ^ William Sitwell, "Earl Spencer doesn't look back on our boarding school fondly, but it did me a world of good", The Telegraph, 17 February 2024, updated 10 March 2024 (opinion).
- ^ Tony Neal, "Shrewsbury drinking nights of future cricket star", Shropshire Star, 18 June 2018.