Our Historic Grounds
The grounds of our school are steeped in history, with roots stretching back nearly two thousand years. Around AD 40, this area would have formed part of the largest Roman fort in the Midlands. By the Norman invasion, this area of Edgbaston was part of an estate gifted to Ansculf de Picquigny by William the Conqueror, in recognition of his service at the Battle of Hastings.
During the Middle Ages, the land became part of Edgbaston Old Hall—now the site of Edgbaston Golf Club. At the bottom of our grounds lies an Elizabethan stew pond, originally used for breeding fish. After the Reformation, when the Catholic tradition of eating fish on Fridays declined, it served as a vital means of supporting the local fishing trade.
By 1702, the land—then known as the Great Cow Pasture came under the ownership of Richard Gough, a prosperous merchant. Gough commissioned the renowned landscape designer Lancelot “Capability” Brown to shape the grounds, including the construction of the distinctive “Ha-Ha” wall.
Our modern chapter began with Mother Angela Croft, the successor to Cornelia Connelly, who established the school in Harborne, laying the foundations for the community we are proud to be part of today.
History of the Main House
The land was originally leased by Thomas Messenger, who was granted permission to construct “a good house to the cost of £1,500 at least.” The property was designed by H.R. Yeoville Thomason, the distinguished architect behind the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Following the Messenger family, the estate was acquired by the Nettlefold family, prominent industrialists and part of the ‘Guest, Keen and Nettlefold’ company. The Nettlefolds were also connected by marriage to the influential Chamberlain family. After Lady Nettlefold’s passing in the early 1900s, the house was repurposed as a preparatory school for boys, with the specific aim of preparing the sons of affluent gentlemen for entry into the Royal Navy.
The Main House in the early 1900’s
The original gymnasium, built during this period, also served as a stage for language plays. Notably, it was the first performance venue for Brian Aherne, who later became a celebrated Broadway star and one of the most acclaimed film actors of the 1930s.
In time, the Sisters of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus were invited back to Edgbaston by Archbishop William Leighton. His decision was prompted by reports that children from Catholic families were attending Church of England schools — a situation he considered unacceptable.
An Art Deco extension to the school building was completed in 1938, marking a significant architectural addition to the site with the current sports hall being completed in the 1950’s.
The School During Wartime
During the Second World War, the surrounding area endured heavy bombing. Strikingly, while bombs fell in a perfect circle on nearby Wellington Road, Priory Road, and even on our own sports field, the school itself remained untouched. The Sisters strongly believed that this was divine intervention.
The Sisters contributed to the war effort by sewing parachutes, while the school opened its doors to accommodate relatives of pupils from more heavily affected inner-city areas — free of charge.
Air raids often saw students sheltering in the safety of the school cellars. In 1944, the youngest ever boarder — affectionately nicknamed “Baby Beaumont” — joined the community, cared for while her mother worked long shifts in the munitions factories.
Life carried on with moments of light-heartedness amid the hardships. A raffle prize in the 1930s famously consisted of a small bottle of lemonade and two onions. Mothers were also expected to make their daughters’ uniforms from fabric purchased on Broad Street, crafting everything from dresses to undergarments. Pupils also joined forces with girls from St Paul’s to form the Catholic Girls’ Training Corps, contributing to the national spirit of service and preparedness.
On 8 May 1945, the entire school gathered around the wireless to hear Winston Churchill’s historic VE Day announcement, marking the end of the war in Europe — a moment forever etched into the school’s collective memory.
Interesting Facts…
In the 1970’s the nuns booked a band for an end of year party. That band turned out to be Black Sabbath before they were famous!
Frank Skinner once accidentally landed his helicopter on the school grounds thinking it was somewhere else. The headmistress at the time made him tour the school and meet the children before he was allowed to commence his flight and find the right location.
Our students met HRH the Duke of Edinburgh at the National Science Show in the 1980’s
Our school was used for a national scientific study that was televised in the 1980’s and hosted by David Bellamy.
Priory School featured in the TV Police Drama Line of Duty.
Karen Armstrong the theologian, and the actress Lolita Chakrabarti are both alumni of our school including many top flight football players.
The first ariel photo of the school was taken by one of the holy Sisters who went to the tower block on the other side of the Bristol Road, climbed to the top, and risking death, balanced precariously on a 14th floor balcony to achieve the optimal view.
The statue in the entrance to the Prep School is carved by P. Lindsey Clarke from a beam of wood believed to be over 600 years old. It was taken from the Priory of Aylesford in Kent that housed pilgrims in the Middle Ages on their way to Canterbury.
