Bay House School

Gosport County Grammar School

I first started this site intending to concentrate just on Bay House School. However it has become clear from a number of people that have written to me, that just as many pupils of the Grammar School that preceded Bay House have come across the site. Several have been kind enough to send photos from those days, so it seemed only right to recognize their interest by having a page dedicated to the Gosport County Grammar School. After all, as well as the Bay House building itself, many teachers, ideas and traditions were carried over from the old Grammar School to the new Comprehensive.

It all began back in 1891 apparently, when a local committee was formed for the purpose of establishing classes for Technical Instruction in Gosport, Rowner and Alverstoke. This committee went on to join with the Committee of the Gosport School of Science and Art, and from these beginnings grew Gosport County Grammar School. Although the school came to occupy several different premises, it was still cramped and lacking in facilities. Thus, in 1949 the school extended again to include the buildings at Bay House. In 1972 came the change to the comprehensive system of education, and Gosport County Grammar school became Bay House School, with it's facilities now concentrated at Bay House. The school had also merged with the Privett Secondary Modern School at this time, and the buildings of the latter were used as an annex for the first two years when I joined Bay House. The site of the annex is now a housing estate. So far no one has sent me any photos of the old Privett annex, and I don't have any myself, so if you happen to have some in a dark corner of the attic I'd be very grateful for them!

If you are interested in the history of the Gosport County Grammar School, then I can highly recommend "The life and times of Gosport County Grammar School" by Lesley Burton, ISBN 0951467417. It costs just £6.50, and I recently bought a copy via W.H. Smith online, so it is still available.

Below are some photos of the Grammar School. Use the arrows to click through them and details of the photo will pop up if you select it.

Thanks to Ann Mitchell (now Owen) for this photo

Thanks again to Sheila Watts for the picture

The one of Sheila's photos is of the Clarence Square School, still standing today. Sheila says "Usually boys were taught here, but I do remember having a maths lesson there once, sitting in tiers, with the seats at the rear of the classroom high up, and each row lower than the one behind. But it was definitely a one off!"

Photo shows Paul Hedderly (who sent the picture), Allan Harding, Allan Dellbridge, John 'Ben' Baxter. Paul's note on the back of the photo reads:- "2B gardening near the Room B fire escape during English period by kind permission of Mr Amos."

Celia Hedderly sent this picture of an 'Old Gosportians' committee meeting (thought to be late '50s). Colin Mansbridge, Mary Tyrrell, Mrs Saunders, ?, Doug Scorey, Don Head, Rosemary Lawrence, David Broomhead, ?, Celia Hedderly, ?

An 'Old Gosportonians' photo, this one is the Christmas gathering at the Lee Tower Ballroom in 1952, sent in by Brian Adams.

Joe Hunt sent this photo, which shows some of the 5th Year (5C?) in 1960. From left to right he remembers; Michael Johnston, Brian Blake, not sure who the girl is - might have popped in, Percy Peek (History teacher), Alan Adams, - Williams?, Joseph Hunt, Robin Hanbidge, - Annalls

I wasn't sure whether to include this photo here or on the 'sports' page. I decided on putting it here as there are no swimmers in the actual photo! I also remember us being dragged down to the open air swimming pool at Gosport for these events when I was at the school. Freezing cold, usually raining, and the teachers wondered why no-one ever volunteered to take part! I believe the pool is now gone. Shown in the photo is Sonia Hamilton, Eileen Batts, Celia Hedderly, Shelagh McCarton, Marion Boucher, Fay Knight. Photo is from Celia Hedderly.

Diane Western [nee Lock] sent this photo of the Form 6 Upper Arts Girls at Bay House in 1956. Back Row L to R: Diane Lock, Jennifer Cohn, Dianne Carter, Averil Jenkins, Christine Coombes?, Chrystal McBeth. Middle: Jennifer Longman, Susan Rogers, Denise Cole, Janet Thorn, Pearl Payne?. Front: Jennifer Seyes, Ann Clayden, Rosemary Mant?, Lesley King.

Peter H Smith sent this photo. He explains, "The picture is of form 2L taken at the Walpole Rd building in 1947. I think the room was directly opposite Alan Walker's office on the second floor. The inadequate lighting is indicated by the single-bulb fixture. In the winter it was really difficult to read in those conditions. The pupils in the front from right to left are: Betty Rivers, Joan Tufnell and Valerie Tanton (Mr Tanton's daughter - he was the history teacher and his wife taught music for a spell). You can see my head in the farthest corner behind Dave Bailey. Dave and I were at the old Elson school and were evacuated together in 1939."

Anthea White sent this photo. She says "Some of the pupils in it are - front left (sitting on a stone bollard) Mick Rand, who I believe took the photo. Next to him standing on the step is Jillian Orr. Others I recognise are Jackie May (rear left on wall), Cecilia Porter, Vernon Arthur, Gillian Mansbridge, Ruth Lester, Pamela Toon and teachers :- Mr Head, Miss Davies and Miss Symonds. I'm lurking behind the large stone globe".

In 1949, proudly wearing her new County Grammar School Uniform.....get that bike ! Photo from Sheila.

This photo is from about 1970, of the 2nd year

Thanks to Ann Mitchell (now Owen) for this photo