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OUR HERITAGE

Follow the timeline of our school starting 275 years ago

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1749

1749

Formation of the Clergy Orphan Society in Yorkshire.

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1749

Formation of the Clergy Orphan Society in Yorkshire.

1751

Election of the first boy on 30 May, John Pyrke – sent to a school in Thirsk, Yorkshire

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1751

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1762

Revd Daniel Addison - Headmaster

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1762

Revd Daniel Addison - Headmaster

1783

Revd Daniel Addison - Headmaster (son of previous)

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1783

Revd Daniel Addison - Headmaster (son of previous)

1798

The school moved to Silton Hall, Thirsk

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1798

The school moved to Silton Hall, Thirsk

1800

1804

Revd. Thomas Cripps - Headmaster

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1804

Revd. Thomas Cripps - Headmaster

1805

Revd. Evan Jones - Headmaster

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1805

Revd. Evan Jones - Headmaster

1809

The Society became a Corporation

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1809

The Society became a Corporation

1812

School moved to St John's Wood at the nursery end of the Lord's Cricket Ground.

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1812

School moved to St John's Wood at the nursery end of the Lord's Cricket Ground.

1813

Revd William Farley - Headmaster

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1813

Revd William Farley - Headmaster

1817

Revd Thomas Wharton - Headmaster

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1817

Revd Thomas Wharton - Headmaster

1837

Revd George Bewsher - Headmaster

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1837

Revd George Bewsher - Headmaster

1841

Revd Daniel Butler - Headmaster

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1841

Revd Daniel Butler - Headmaster

1855

The school moves to Canterbury - 2nd October 1855 The property and financing to build the school was provided by Samuel Wilson Warneford. The main school building was designed by Philip Charles Hardwick.

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1855

The school moves to Canterbury - 2nd October 1855 The property and financing to build the school was provided by Samuel Wilson Warneford. The main school building was designed by Philip Charles Hardwick.

1858

The Chapel is completed with the first chapel service held on 6th June 1858

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1858

The Chapel is completed with the first chapel service held on 6th June 1858

1867

Revd Charles Matheson - Headmaster

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1867

Revd Charles Matheson - Headmaster

1880

Formation of The COS Society (Old Boys)

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1880

The first school photo taken in 1880

1886

The first school magazine is published - The COS

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1886

The first school magazine is published - The COS

1891

Revd. Arthur Upcott - Headmaster

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1891

Revd. Arthur Upcott - Headmaster

1891

Swimming Bath opened and the first Gymnasium

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1891

Swimming Bath opened and the first Gymnasium

1897

Name of the school is changed to St Edmund's School after the Archbishop of Canterbury St Edmund of Abingdon.

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1897

Name of the school is changed to St Edmund's School after the Archbishop of Canterbury St Edmund of Abingdon.

1900

1900

The motto Ecclesiae Fili is replaced with Fungar Vice Cotis: Be as a whetstone for others to be sharpened upon

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1900

The motto Ecclesiae Fili is replaced with Fungar Vice Cotis: Be as a whetstone for others to be sharpened upon

1902

First Non-Foundationers admitted

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1902

First Non-Foundationers admitted

1902

Revd. Edward Houghton - Headmaster

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1902

Revd. Edward Houghton - Headmaster

1903

The first House system 'North, East and West' was introduced for games only. The first Cadet Corps was also introduced.

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1903

The first House system 'North, East and West' was introduced for games only. The first Cadet Corps was also introduced.

1908

Revd. Walter Burnside - Headmaster

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1908

Revd. Walter Burnside - Headmaster

1915

V.C awarded to B.H Geary

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1915

V.C awarded to B.H Geary

1923

House names are changed to Baker, Wagner, Warneford and Watson after Victorian benefactors of the school.

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1923

1932

Revd. Henry Banforth - Headmaster

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1932

Revd. Henry Banforth - Headmaster

1937

First admission of the day pupils

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1937

First admission of the day pupils

1940

The boys reassemble at Carlyon Bay in Cornwall with The King's School where they stay during World War II.

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1940

1945

Return to Canterbury 12th October 1945. Mr William Thoseby - Headmaster

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1945

Return to Canterbury 12th October 1945. Mr William Thoseby - Headmaster

1950

Visit of HRH Princess Margaret

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1950

Visit of HRH Princess Margaret

1955

Abingdon House is built and HRH Princess Alexandra visits to celebrate the centenary in Canterbury

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1955

Abingdon House is built and HRH Princess Alexandra visits to celebrate the centenary in Canterbury

1960

Mr Michael Hoban - Headmaster

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1960

Mr Michael Hoban - Headmaster

1964

Mr Francis Rawes - Headmaster

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1964

Mr Francis Rawes - Headmaster

1970

The Swimming Pool is opened

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1970

The Swimming Pool is opened

1972

Cathedral Choristers join the Junior school and form Choir House.

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1972

Cathedral Choristers join the Junior school and form Choir House.

1978

Mr John Tyson - Headmaster

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1978

Mr John Tyson - Headmaster

1980

125th Anniversary in Canterbury celebrated with a visit from HRH the Duke of Gloucester to open the new Lecture Theatre.

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1980

125th Anniversary in Canterbury celebrated with a visit from HRH the Duke of Gloucester to open the new Lecture Theatre.

1982

Fist girls arrive to the school

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1982

Fist girls arrive to the school

1987

Sports Hall is opened by Virginia Wade

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1987

Sports Hall is opened by Virginia Wade

1990

Pontigny, the new headmasters house is built.

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1990

Pontigny, the new headmasters house is built.

1992

Freddy Kempf (14) Wins BBC Young Musician of the Year

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1992

Freddy Kempf (14) Wins BBC Young Musician of the Year

1994

Mr Nicholas Ridley - Headmaster

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1994

Mr Nicholas Ridley - Headmaster

1996

The school is refounded as a fully independent school and no longer under the Clergy Orphan Corporation.

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1996

The school is refounded as a fully independent school and no longer under the Clergy Orphan Corporation.

1998

The new Junior School building is opened

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1998

The new Junior School building is opened

2000

2003

The last foundationer left.

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2003

The last foundationer left.

2004

The new Music school is opened

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2004

The new Music school is opened

2005

Mr Jeremy Gladwin - Headmaster

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2005

Mr Jeremy Gladwin - Headmaster

2011

Louise Moelwyn - Hughes - Headmistress

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2011

Louise Moelwyn - Hughes - Headmistress

2012

The Astro is built

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2012

2018

The Academic Hub Phase 1 begins after securing the largest single donation in the history of the school in 2022 from Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India and Old boy of St Edmund's.

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2018

The Academic Hub Phase 1 begins after securing the largest single donation in the history of the school in 2022 from Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India and Old boy of St Edmund's.

2018

Edward O'Connor - Headmaster

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2018

Edward O'Connor - Headmaster

2023

St Edmund's wins Performing Arts School of the Year Award

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2023

St Edmund's wins Performing Arts School of the Year Award

2024

The School celebrates 275 years and reaches 650 pupils.

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2024

The School celebrates 275 years and reaches 650 pupils.