St Columba's College, Largs
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St Columba's College was an independent, preparatory Marist College in
Largs Largs () is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" (''An Leargaidh'') in Scottish Gaelic. A popular seaside resort with a pier, the town markets itself on its histor ...
,
Ayrshire Ayrshire (, ) is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration county, in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. The lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area of Ayrshire and Arran covers the entirety ...
. It served as a (private) boarding preparatory feeder school for Catholic boarding schools throughout the United Kingdom with particularly close links to the Marist
St. Joseph's College, Dumfries St Joseph's College in Dumfries, South West Scotland, is a Roman Catholic secondary school. It began as a Catholic boys' boarding school run by Marist Brothers. History St Joseph's College was founded in 1875 as both a boarding school and th ...
with some boys going on to
Ampleforth Ampleforth is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, north of York. The village is situated on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. The parish has a population of 883 according to the 2001 census, increasing to 1, ...
. The school closed in 1982.


History

St Columba's College was an independent, preparatory college founded by the Marist Brothers in 1920. The school was small, with total numbers never being above 50 boys. Consisting of 33 boarders and 15–17-day boys. Landour House had originally been purchased as a holiday home for the Marist Brothers. It served as a (boarding and fee-paying) preparatory school feeder for Catholic boarding schools throughout the United Kingdom with links to
St. Joseph's College, Dumfries St Joseph's College in Dumfries, South West Scotland, is a Roman Catholic secondary school. It began as a Catholic boys' boarding school run by Marist Brothers. History St Joseph's College was founded in 1875 as both a boarding school and th ...
and
Ampleforth College Ampleforth College is a co-educational Private schools in the United Kingdom, fee-charging boarding and day school in the English Public school (United Kingdom), public school tradition. It opened in 1803 as a boys' school. It is near the villa ...
. A number of local day boys would travel to Glasgow daily to continue their education after leaving, typically attending St. Mungo's Academy or St. Aloysius' College. Emphasis was on religious instruction and character building. There was much insistence on discipline, which was very strict. Achievement and academic standards were high. The Marist Brothers of the Schools (FMS- Fratres Maristae a Scholis) were founded by Father (now Saint) Marcellin Champagnat on the 2nd January 1817, in La Valla, France, as an Order dedicated to teaching children in schools. The Marist Brothers first arrived in the United Kingdom in 1852 in London and came to Glasgow in 1858. The various headmasters ensured that the Marist vocation of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was a daily part of school life. A statue of Our Lady was positioned prominently on the steep path at the back of the school which led uphill towards the golf course and hills above Largs. One Headmaster, Brother Nicholas (who later left the Brothers to get married) is mentioned as part of a 'holy fourball' of golfers (given his golfing skills) in "Sam", the autobiography of golfer
Sam Torrance Samuel Robert Torrance (born 24 August 1953) is a Scotland, Scottish professional golfer and sports commentator. He was one of the leading players on the European Tour from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s, with 21 Tour wins. Torrance was a membe ...
, who was a member of Routenburn Golf Club, situated above and adjacent to the school. Various factors such as a failure to adjust to the prevailing changes in boarding education, coupled with the decline in religious vocations necessary to maintain staffing levels in the years immediately following the Second Vatican Council, resulted in falling pupil numbers and the eventual closure of the school. The school closed in 1981 and the main buildings were subsequently sold to property developer Tay. Who then sold the two properties to Barratt Homes in 1989. Landour house constructed in 1840 was demolished to make way for ten family homes built by Barratt Homes. Northfield house (constructed 1840) was retained as the subjects is protected and listed as Category B building. Eight family homes were built within the grounds of Northfield by Barratt. The land and homes is now known as Northfield Park, Largs.


Campus

The original school building, 'Landour House' built in 1840 and sited at 118 Greenock Road. The neighbouring house, 'Northfield' 1840 listed as Category 'B' was purchased by the school in 1968. Refurbished and operational as classrooms and residential accommodation for the Marist Brothers for the year 1969-1970. The school playing fields on the shore side of Greenock Road were redeveloped for housing prior to the school closure. Consisting of eight homes constructed of period style circa 1980. Landour House was demolished following the closure of the school, while Northfield was converted into flatted accommodation. The grounds of both houses circa 1989-1990 and the school playing fields circa 1980 were subsequently developed for housing. The Landour name is no longer used, however Northfield Park takes its name from the remaining building and Boathouse Road, Drive and Avenue recall the old boathouse which is sited on the shore side of Greenock Road close to the end of Boathouse Drive. An original cottage beside the site of the old boathouse no longer remains. It was used, for a time, as the Matron's accommodation until 1963.


Former staff


Headmasters

Brother Ezekiel (1920's) * Brother Nilaus (1940's) * Brother Urban * Brother Cyprian Edwards (1957–?1958) * Brother Ralph (1959-1965) * Brother Eustice (1966-1967) * Brother Arthur (1967-1969) * Brother Nicholas (1970-1976) (Fergus Welsh 1932-2011) * Brother Arthur (1976-1981)


Deputy Headmaster

* Brother Douglas (1975-1976) (Robert Welsh 1941-2022)


Teaching staff

* Brother Aloysius * Brother Nilaus * Brother Robert Lee * Brother Philip * Brother Colin * Brother Eustace * Brother Joseph * Brother James * Brother Germanus (David McKell) * Brother Nicholas (Fergus Welsh) * Brother Antoninus * Brother Austin * Brother Francis * Brother Daniel * Brother Charles * Brother Douglas (Robert Welsh) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


Other

* Frank Byrne (Cook)


References


External links


124 Greenock Road St Columba's College (formerly Northfield), Largs
- British Listed Buildings * {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Columba's College Largs Defunct Catholic schools in Scotland Listed schools in Scotland Marist Brothers schools Defunct schools in North Ayrshire Defunct private schools in Scotland Defunct preparatory schools in Scotland Defunct boarding schools in Scotland