Inscriptions: Bedford House School
The inscription over the door of the former Bedford House School at 122 Walton Street* reads:
SITE OF BEDFORD HOUSE SCHOOL
1873–1930
THIS TABLET WAS ERECTED BY
THE OLD BOYS CLUB
TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF
J. W. ROBINSON, HEADMASTER
1895–1930
The above inscription is slightly inaccurate, because from 1873 to 1875 the school was based in another building at 130 Walton Street.
The first mention in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of Bedford House School (a private school which prepared boys for the Oxford Local Examinations) was in the issue of 10 January 1874, when the following advertisement was inserted:
EDUCATION
BEDFORD HOUSE SCHOOL, 130,WALTON STREET, OXFORD.
MR. J. H. THOROGOOD hopes to meet his Pupils
on Wednesday next the 14th of January, 1874
Similar notices published over the years show that terms started January, April, and August. The results of the school in the Oxford Local Examinations are published each year, as well as the yearly prize-giving. The newspaper of 30 January 1875 reports that the Vicar of St Giles, the Revd H. Deane, presented the prizes that year, and also mentioned the fact that the school was about to move premises:
Mr. Thorogood would have been glad to have invited the parents and friends of the scholars, but the present premises are too small to allow of that. He has, however, secured a site from the President and Scholars of St. John’s College, and he has in course of erection a large room, class-room, and offices, &c., sufficient to accommodate 100 scholars; it is hoped that these will be ready by Easter.
In the event, the new school was opened on 22 May 1875. Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 16 October 1875 reported:
A new School in Walton-street, built for Mr. Thorogood, Master of the “Bedford House School”, by Mr. Joseph Hall, was opened on the 22nd of May last. The School, which is built of brick, with stone facings, is spacious, and there is a large playground at the back, together with all the necessary offices.
John Harris Thorogood, who lived near the school at Bedford House itself (135 Walton Street), remained Principal of the school until the summer term of 1895. J. W. Robinson took over as the second (and last) Principal in the autumn term of 1895.
The school closed in 1930, and was used as a Somerville College lecture room until the mid-1950s. Between 1973 and 1976 it is listed in Kelly’s Directory as St Paul’s Sunday School.
* The former Bedford House School is today numbered 122 Walton Street (which is logical, as it stands between 121 and 123 Walton Street, and the the street has the old-fashioned type of consecutive numbering). It is not usually numbered in old directories, however, and when it is, it is given the number 121A.