Wixenford School, also known as Wixenford Preparatory School and Wixenford-Eversley, was an

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

preparatory school for boys near

Wokingham Wokingham is a market town in Berkshire, England, west of London, southeast of Reading, north of Camberley and west of Bracknell. History Wokingham means 'Wocca's people's home'. Wocca was apparently a Saxon chieftain who may als ...

, founded in 1869. A feeder school for

Eton Eton most commonly refers to Eton College, a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. Eton may also refer to: Places *Eton, Berkshire, a town in Berkshire, England * Eton, Georgia, a town in the United States * Éton, a commune in the Meuse dep ...

, after it closed in 1934 its former buildings were taken over by the present-day Ludgrove School.

History

The school was founded in 1869 at Wixenford House, Eversley,

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...

, by its first head master,

Richard Cowley Powles Richard Cowley Powles (1819–1901), known often as Cowley Powles, was an English cleric, academic and founding headmaster of Wixenford School. Early life He was the son of John Diston Powles, and was educated at Helston Grammar School under D ...

(1819–1901), a

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

cleric, and has been described as "successful and fashionable". Among the school's first intake of boys, in May 1869, was George Nathaniel Curzon, a future

Viceroy of India The Governor-General of India (1773–1950, from 1858 to 1947 the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, commonly shortened to Viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom and after Indian independence in 19 ...

. Before being attached to the school, "Wixenford" was the name of its first home, a new

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

built for Powles at Eversley in 1868–69. Powles, who in his youth had been a

fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

of Exeter College, Oxford, had previously operated a school at

Blackheath Blackheath may refer to: Places England *Blackheath, London, England ** Blackheath railway station **Hundred of Blackheath, Kent, an ancient hundred in the north west of the county of Kent, England *Blackheath, Surrey, England ** Hundred of Blackh ...

, and he came to Eversley to be near his lifelong friend

Charles Kingsley Charles Kingsley (12 June 1819 – 23 January 1875) was a broad church priest of the Church of England, a university professor, social reformer, historian, novelist and poet. He is particularly associated with Christian socialism, the working ...

. After Kingsley's death in 1875, Powles became less active in the school and retired as headmaster in 1879. He moved to

Chichester Chichester () is a cathedral city and civil parish in West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton B2 edition. Publishing Date:2009. It is the only ci ...

in 1881, where he became a prebendary of the cathedral. One of his boys at Wixenford,

Albert Baillie Albert Victor Baillie KCVO, DD (5 August 1864 – 3 November 1955) was a Church of England clergyman during the first half of the 20th century, ending his career as Dean of Windsor. He was the Registrar of the Order of the Garter (1917&nd ...

, writing in the 1950s, recalled Powles as "a genuine educator and a remarkable man" and noted that he had worn his hair "neatly brushed up into two horns above his ears". Powles was succeeded in 1879 by Ernest Penrose Arnold, a graduate of

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. One of Oxford's oldest colleges, it was founded around 1263 by John I de Balliol, a landowner from Barnard Castle in County Durham, who provided the f ...

, the son of Charles Thomas Arnold (1817–1878) who taught at

Rugby School Rugby School is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) in Rugby, Warwickshire, England. Founded in 1567 as a free grammar school for local boys, it is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain. Up ...

. E. P. Arnold remained as head master of the school until 1903. At six feet, five inches, in height, Arnold has been described by Rupert Croft-Cooke as "a kindly but rather frightening bearded man". Wixenford was still small, as most such schools were at the time, and a school photograph of the early 1880s shows thirty-nine boys, plus Arnold and five other masters.Maurice Francis Headlam, ''Bishop and friend: Nugent Hicks, sixty-fourth bishop of Lincoln'' (1945), p. 17 The school moved to Luckley Park, Wokingham,

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...

, in 1887. Throughout its history, it had a close connection with

, to which many boys progressed at about the age of thirteen.About Us
at stneotsprep.co.uk, accessed 12 March 209 A few boys stayed longer, and at least one, Peter Anson, was almost fifteen when he left the school in the summer of 1904.'Anson, Peter Frederick', in ''

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...

'' (OUP, 2007) In 1903 Arnold was succeeded by Philip Howard Morton (1857–1925), who had been a

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...

cricketer Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

, and in 1910 '' Country Life'' magazine noted that he kept a private golf course at the school and that his boys played golf "vigorously" in the

Easter term Easter term is the summer term at the University of Cambridge, University of Wales, Lampeter, University of Durham, and formerly University of Newcastle upon Tyne (before 2004triumvirate. By 1920, Morton had retired and had been replaced by Charles Mansfield, but Wallis and Garnett remained. By 1924, Mansfield was acting as the sole head master, with the other two men as partners. In September 1931 Garnett withdrew from the partnership. Amid the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

of the 1930s, Wixenford suffered a decline in numbers and finally closed in 1934. With its demise, its former buildings presented an opportunity for another fashionable prep school, Ludgrove, until then based at Cockfosters, which moved onto the site in 1937. While retaining its existing school name, Ludgrove initially kept "Wixenford" as the name of its new premises. The original Wixenford House, in which the school was begun, is now the home of St Neot's Preparatory School.

Old Wixenfordians

Old boys of the school are called Old Wixenfordians. The following, in chronological order, are among the most notable. *

George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, (11 January 1859 – 20 March 1925), styled Lord Curzon of Kedleston between 1898 and 1911 and then Earl Curzon of Kedleston between 1911 and 1921, was a British Conservative statesman ...

(1859–1925), Viceroy of India and British Foreign Secretary *

Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael Thomas David Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael, (18 March 1859 – 16 January 1926), known as Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 11th Baronet, between 1891 and 1912, was a Scottish Liberal politician and colonial administrator. He was also a ke ...

(1859–1926), Liberal politician and colonial administrator * Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 3rd Baronet, of Brayton (1862–1937), Liberal member of parliament *

Cyril Maude Cyril Francis Maude (24 April 1862 — 20 February 1951) was an English actor-manager. Biography Maude was born in London and educated at Wixenford and Charterhouse School. In 1881, he was sent to Adelaide, South Australia, on the clipper ship ...

(1862–1951), actor-manager *

Albert Victor Baillie Albert Victor Baillie KCVO, DD (5 August 1864 – 3 November 1955) was a Church of England clergyman during the first half of the 20th century, ending his career as Dean of Windsor. He was the Registrar of the Order of the Garter (1917&nd ...

(1864–1955), Dean of Windsor *

Lord Alfred Douglas Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas (22 October 1870 – 20 March 1945), also known as Bosie Douglas, was an English poet and journalist, and a lover of Oscar Wilde. At Oxford he edited an undergraduate journal, ''The Spirit Lamp'', that carried a homoer ...

, or "Bosie" (1870–1945), poet and translator, intimate friend of

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...

Frederick Pethick-Lawrence, 1st Baron Pethick-Lawrence Frederick William Pethick-Lawrence, 1st Baron Pethick-Lawrence, PC (né Lawrence; 28 December 1871 – 10 September 1961) was a British Labour politician who, among other things, campaigned for women's suffrage. Background and education Bo ...

(1871–1961), Labour politician, Secretary of State for India *

R. C. Trevelyan Robert Calverl(e)y Trevelyan (; 28 June 1872 – 21 March 1951) was an English poet and translator, of a traditionalist sort, and a follower of the lapidary style of Logan Pearsall Smith. Life Trevelyan was the second son of Sir George Trev ...

(1872–1951), poet *

Hugh Law Hugh Law, PC (Ire), QC (19 June 1818 – 10 September 1883) was an Irish lawyer, politician and Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Born in County Down, son of John Law of Woodlawn and Margaret Crawley of Cullaville, Law was educated at the Roya ...

(1872–1943), Irish politician

, ''Fate Has Been Kind'' (1943), p. 20 *

Nugent Hicks Frederick Cyril Nugent Hicks (1872 – 10 February 1942) was a Church of England bishop and author who served as Bishop of Gibraltar from 1927 to 1933, and Bishop of Lincoln from 1933 to 1942. Life Born on 28 June 1872, Hicks underwent early edu ...

(1872–1942), Bishop of Lincoln * Sir Walter Wilson Greg (1875–1959), Shakespeare scholar *

George Macaulay Trevelyan George Macaulay Trevelyan (16 February 1876 – 21 July 1962) was a British historian and academic. He was a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, from 1898 to 1903. He then spent more than twenty years as a full-time author. He returned to the ...

(1876–1962), historian * Arnold Wienholt (1877–1940), Australian politician *

Edmund Parker, 4th Earl of Morley Edmund Robert Parker, 4th Earl of Morley JP (19 April 1877 – 10 October 1951), styled Viscount Boringdon from his birth until 1905, was a British peer and Devon landowner. Early life Edmund Parker was the son of Albert Parker, 3rd Earl of Morle ...

(1877–1951), soldier and landowner * Sir Howard Kennard (1878–1955), British diplomat *

William Leveson-Gower, 4th Earl Granville William Spencer Leveson-Gower, 4th Earl Granville, (11 July 1880 – 25 June 1953), styled The Honourable William Leveson-Gower until 1939, was a British naval commander and governor from the Leveson-Gower family. Background Leveson-Gower was ...

(1880–1953), admiral * Sir Stewart Gore-Browne (1883–1967), settler and politician in Northern Rhodesia * Ralph Glyn, 1st Baron Glyn (1884–1960), soldier and Conservative politician * Peter Anson (1889–1975), monk, writer, and artist *

Duff Cooper Alfred Duff Cooper, 1st Viscount Norwich, (22 February 1890 – 1 January 1954), known as Duff Cooper, was a British Conservative Party politician and diplomat who was also a military and political historian. First elected to Parliament in 192 ...

(1890–1954), Conservative politician and diplomat *

William Howard, 8th Earl of Wicklow William Cecil James Philip John Paul Howard, 8th Earl of Wicklow (30 October 1902 – 8 February 1978), styled Lord Clonmore until 1946, was an Anglo-Irish peer. He was the only child of Ralph Howard, 7th Earl of Wicklow and the Countess of ...

(1902–1978), clergyman, writer and translator * Sir Edmund Bacon, 13th Baronet, KG (1903–1982), landowner and Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk * Kenneth Clark (1903–1983), art historian * Prince Charles, Count of Flanders (1903–1983) * Alfred Duggan (1903–1964), historical novelist

Grace Curzon, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston Grace Elvina Curzon, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston, GBE (née Hinds, formerly Duggan; May 16, 1885 – June 29, 1958) was an American-born British marchioness and the second wife of George Curzon, British parliamentarian, cabinet minister, and ...

, ''Reminiscences'' (1955), p. 45 *

Hubert Duggan Hubert John Duggan (24 July 1904 – 25 October 1943) was a British Army officer and politician, who was Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Acton from 1931 until his death. He was an opponent of appeasement and broke the whip on several ...

(1904–1943), Conservative politician * James Stern (1904–1993), Anglo-Irish writer *

Sir Harold Acton Sir Harold Mario Mitchell Acton (5 July 1904 – 27 February 1994) was a British writer, scholar, and aesthete who was a prominent member of the Bright young things, Bright Young Things. He wrote fiction, biography, history and autobiography. ...

(1904–1994), historian * Edward Ward, 7th Viscount Bangor (1905–1993), BBC war correspondent and author *

David Herbert The Honourable David Alexander Reginald Herbert (3 October 1908 – 3 April 1995) was a British socialite and writer. Early life and education He was the second son of Reginald Herbert, 15th Earl of Pembroke. He spent his first few years in ...

(1908–1995), socialite, memoirist and interior decorator * Sir Frederick Warner (1918–1995), diplomat * Sir Guy Millard (1917–2013), British Ambassador *

William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw William Stephen Ian Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw, (28 June 1918 – 1 July 1999) was a British Conservative Party politician who served in a wide number of Cabinet positions, most notably as Home Secretary from 1979 to 1983 and as ''de fac ...

, (1918–1999), Home Secretary *

Henry Paget, 7th Marquess of Anglesey George Charles Henry Victor Paget, 7th Marquess of Anglesey (8 October 1922 – 13 July 2013), styled Earl of Uxbridge until 1947, was a British peer and a military historian. Biography Henry Paget was the son of Charles Paget, 6th Marquess ...

(1922–2013), author and peerAndrew Cox, Charles Roger Dod, Robert Phipps Dod, ''Dod's Parliamentary Companion'' (1999), p. 12

Notes

{{authority control Boys' schools in Berkshire Boarding schools in Berkshire Boys' schools in Hampshire Boarding schools in Hampshire Defunct schools in the Borough of Wokingham 1869 establishments in England Educational institutions disestablished in 1934 Preparatory schools in Berkshire Preparatory schools in Hampshire Defunct boarding schools in England