The Founder

The school was founded in 1903 by Mr. G. T. Atkinson, who had been for many years the Headmaster at a Preparatory School in Highgate London. 

It fullfilled a personal wish to open a Preparatory for Boarding Boys set in a coastal location. His search led him to Swanage and Durlston Head.

At the start of the school there were 23 boys. 

The school building in 1906 before the distinctive turrets were added.

(Thanks to Malcolm Chapman of the Tony Hancock Archive Collection for finding this and other photos of the old school)

Durlston Head, Swanage

A recently discovered colour postcard of Swanage, shows the commanding position the school had over the bay.

Atkinson's love of Roman History led him to select the school's crest of an Imperial Roman Eagle and the motto 'Erectus non elatus'. 

The school occupied an imposing site overlooking Swanage Bay. Between 1903 and 1938 the school grew in size from 23 boarders to 65 boarders. The school also purchased additional sports grounds.

The front of the school from a watercolour by pupil R C Bean in 1929

This picture shows the boarding house which was across the road from the main school building

 

The school had extensive grounds and playing fields. A playground and tennis court were located at the rear of the school. Pat Cox became a co-partner in 1926 and upon the retirement of Mr. Atkinson at the age of 73 years, he became Headmaster until 1965.

 

Drama and Music
The school has had a long tradition of producing drama productions and musicals. Gilbert and Sullivan operas were especially popular. Pictured here is the cast from the 1938 production of The Pirates of Penzance.

Note the unhappy pirate 7th from the left in the back row. It is none other than Old Durlstonian Tony Hancock.

The War Years 1940 - 45 Earnshill
At the outbreak of war, the parents voted to move the school as it was feared that Durslton Head was too close for comfort to a local Radar Station. So the school was moved to Earnshill at Curry Rivel near Taunton in Somerset.

It was sold on 2nd May 1942 as a convalescent home for Warwickshire Miners, and was also requisitioned by the Army. 

In its new home the school enjoyed lovely surroundings - which provided a fantastic and safe retreat from the war. 

 

Every boy had to be a member of the Cadet Corps. Many of the pupils of this time remember this as the 'Golden Years' but perhaps this was more to do with the excitment that war brought to small boys! The School remined at Earnshill until 1945.

 

42 boys joined the Spotters Club and became very skilled aircraft spotters by 1942.

 

Some of the boys are seen here learning their spotting skills.

After The War
The school at Swanage was in disrepair following the army's occupation of the buildings. So, in September 1945 Durlston Court School moved into the vacant Furzie Close School, Barton on Sea. Furzie close had moved to the north of the country during the war, but failed to maintain sufficient pupils.

It is said that the site in Barton was chosen by Pat Cox because of its close proximity to so many golf courses!

The Great Fire
Sunday, May 18th 1947 had the misfortune to be the most tragic day in the history of the school. The New Milton Advertiser front page banner headlines states “Barton School Fire Drama. Maid loses her life but 82 boys saved. “The maid was Miss Josephine Wood.

Mr PG. Ingoldby, County Coroner, stated that the “origin of the fire is unknown and I don’t think it ever can be known.”

According to the coroner “But for the extra-ordinary presence of mind and discipline displayed at the school the most appalling catastrophe might have happened.”

Mr C Curry, now current owner of the Advertiser and Times, recalled as a young reporter attending the scene. “The fire was the worst the district had known for many years. The blaze fanned by a strong breeze, spread very rapidly and the beautiful building soon became an almost total wreck.”

 

Pat Cox writing in The Durlstonian said. ‘The New Milton Fire Brigade arrived too late and in too few numbers to do much good.’

Given the severity of the blaze, appliances were summoned from Burley, Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Bournemouth and Southampton. Great difficulty was experienced in getting a sufficient volume of water to fight the fire.

During the rest of the summer term some of the boys were sent to other schools. Pat Cox refunded ¾ of the fees. Thankfully the Directors of the Grand Marine hotel, Barton on Sea, offered their facilities while the school was being rebuilt.

61 boys and 10 staff were housed at the Grand Marine. Cox lost all of the school’s account books in the blaze. He reported that staff lost everything. Cox estimated a loss of £5,000.

The Insurers met the rebuilding costs and a well-known firm of local builders, Drews, commenced the task of raising a new school from the ashes of the old.

Developments Under Headmaster Ian Onslow
In 1965 when Ian Onslow became Headmaster the fabric of the school was in good order. He was the brains behind the building of the Pre-Prep Department.

A Science laboratory was built above the courtyard garages and underneath became the new Art Room. Two new squash courts were also built thanks to the generosity of the Haywood family.

A 'Google Earth' view of the school c.1997 before the owners of the land sold off part for a housing estate. 

Note that this was taken before the car park, the road to the front of the main building, AstroTurf and the extension to Pre-prep.

Finally in 2005, the Governors buy the freehold of the land and buildings - over 60 years after Durlston Court School moved to Barton after their wartime evacuation.