St Columba's College, Largs

St Columba's College was an independent, preparatory Marist College in Largs, Ayrshire. 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 with some boys going on to Ampleforth. 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 and Ampleforth College. 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, 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