History of College Houses & Buildings

  • Boarding Houses
  • Other College Buildings
  • Sport Facilities
  • Brandeston Hall

Stradbroke House

Prince Albert, the Prince Consort and the husband of Queen Victoria, died on 14th December 1861. In Suffolk, Queen Victoria’s subjects resolved upon the constitution of some suitable memorial to her Consort. Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison, Bart, M.P. made a proposition that fuller and better use be made of the Framlingham estate which had been bequeathed in 1636 to the Master and Fellows of Pembroke College, Cambridge in part for educational purposes. With the support of the Second Earl of Stradbroke and Richard Garrett, amongst others, a meeting was held in Ipswich at which over seven hundred persons, comprising ‘’the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Clergy and principal Yeomen of the County’’ supported the funding of The Albert Middle Class College in Suffolk, now known as Framlingham College. The Second Earl of Stradbroke was the Right.Hon. Sir John Cornwallis Rous (1794 –1886) of Henham Hall. His family had settled in Dennington in the time of Edward III. He was the first President of the Corporation and was Lord Lieutenant of the County. The Third Earl was President from 1907 to 1912.

Rendlesham House

The Right Hon. Frederick William Brook Thelluson (1840-1911), Fifth Baron Rendlesham in the Peerage of Ireland, of Rendlesham Hall, was appointed to the Corporation in 1875 and became its third President in 1886. He was M.P. for East Suffolk for eleven years and at various times held a large number of public offices in Suffolk. For a long time, ‘’he was the most widely known and best liked man in the county’’.

Moreau House

Emile Moreau was born in France in 1856 and attended the College as a Pembroke Scholar in 1871-72. The next year he joined the family firm in India and in 1886 started the bookstore chain ‘A H Wheeler’ which was to be found on most stations in India until 2004. In 1889 he became Rudyard Kipling’s first publisher. At the start of WW1 he returned to the UK where his contribution to the Ministry of Munitions earned him the CBE. President of the SOF in 1919 – 1920, he became a Governor in 1920 and remained one until his death in 1937. He made many generous financial contributions to the College and left bequests both to the College (2/7ths of his estate) and to the SOF (1/7th), the equivalent of well over half a million pounds in today’s terms. These bequests have been used for various purposes including this House, the new library at Brandeston and for the ongoing Moreau Scholarships.

Pembroke House

Prince Albert, the Prince Consort and the husband of Queen Victoria, died on 14th December 1861. In Suffolk, Queen Victoria’s subjects resolved upon the constitution of some suitable memorial to her Consort. Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison, Bart, M.P. made a proposition that fuller and better use be made of the Framlingham estate which had been bequeathed in 1636 to the Master and Fellows of Pembroke College, Cambridge in part for educational purposes. With the support of the Second Earl of Stradbroke and Richard Garrett, amongst others, a meeting was held in Ipswich at which over seven hundred persons, comprising ‘’the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Clergy and principal Yeomen of the County’’ supported the funding of The Albert Middle Class College in Suffolk, now known as Framlingham College. To this day, the Master of Pembroke College has been a Governor.

Victoria House

Prince Albert, the Prince Consort and the husband of Queen Victoria, died on 14th December 1861. In Suffolk, Queen Victoria’s subjects resolved upon the constitution of some suitable memorial to her Consort. Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison, Bart,M.P. made a proposition that fuller and better use be made of the Framlingham estate which had been bequeathed in 1636 to the Master and Fellows of Pembroke College, Cambridge in part for educational purposes. With the support of the Second Earl of Stradbroke and Richard Garrett, amongst others, a meeting was held in Ipswich at which over seven hundred persons, comprising ‘’the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Clergy and principal Yeomen of the County’’ supported the funding of The Albert Middle Class College in Suffolk, now known as Framlingham College. Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, Princess Alice became the Royal Visitor in 1949 when she opened Brandeston Hall. The House was re-opened having formerly been the Medical Centre.

Kerrison House

Prince Albert, the Prince Consort and the husband of Queen Victoria, died on 14th December 1861. In Suffolk, Queen Victoria’s subjects resolved upon the constitution of some suitable memorial to her Consort. Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison, Bart, M.P. made a proposition that fuller and better use be made of the Framlingham estate which had been bequeathed in 1636 to the master and Fellows of Pembroke College, Cambridge in part for educational purposes. With the support of the Second Earl of Stradbroke and Richard Garrett, amongst others, a meeting was held in Ipswich at which over seven hundred persons, comprising ‘’the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Clergy and principal Yeomen of the County’’ supported the funding of The Albert Middle Class College in Suffolk, now known as Framlingham College. Approximately £25,000 was raised to fund the project of which Charles Kerrison donated 10%. He was the first Vice-President of the Corporation and was M.P. for Eye and subsequently East Suffolk until 1867 when he inherited the barony. He died in 1886.

Garrett House

Prince Albert, the Prince Consort and the husband of Queen Victoria, died on 14th December 1861. In Suffolk, Queen Victoria’s subjects resolved upon the constitution of some suitable memorial to her Consort. Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison, Bart,M.P. made a proposition that fuller and better use be made of the Framlingham estate which had been bequeathed in 1636 to the Master and Fellows of Pembroke College, Cambridge in part for educational purposes. With the support of the Earl of Stradbroke and Richard Garrett, amongst others, a meeting was held in Ipswich at which over seven hundred persons, comprising ‘’the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Clergy and principal Yeomen of the County’’ supported the funding of The Albert Middle Class College in Suffolk, now known as Framlingham College. Richard Garrett and Abraham Garrett were among the original Governors. Richard Garrett was owner of the company that bears his name in Leiston that manufactured agricultural machinery and steam engines. He is credited with introducing one of the first assembly lines to the country. Family members, Frank and George Herbert, subsequently became Chairman of the Governors.

 

 

Ziegele Block

This centre is named after Frank Otto Ziegele (K1910-17). He spent his adult life in Singapore as an East India merchant and was interned, as a civilian prisoner of war, in WWII. He gave generously to the College including £60,000 which was used to build Kerrison House in 1973 and he died in 1978.

Paul’s Court

Originally the site of the Tuckbox Courtyard, the area was enclosed in 1993 and named after Roger Paul OBE DL who was Chairman of Governors from 1972-1987. A land owner and farmer and related to the Paul family who founded BOCM Pauls’, he was also High Sheriff of Suffolk and died in office.

Athlone Hall

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, GCVO, GBE, GStJ (1883-1981) was the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, in whose memory the College was founded. She was appointed College Visitor in 1949 when she officially opened Brandeston Hall on the same day as her husband, the Earl of Athlone unveiled the 1939-1945 war memorial in the Chapel. She opened this Hall in 1964 to mark the centenary of the College. She also visited the College in 1977 to open the Sports Hall.

Headmaster Porter Theatre

Named after Walter Stanley Porter who was Headmaster from 1955-1971. Stanley Porter was a substantial benefactor to the College and the improvements and renewal of the theatre was largely paid for by his generosity. The refurbished theatre was opened by HRH The Earl of Wessex and HRH the Countess of Wessex in 2006.

Pryor House

The Head’s house named after Major Charles Pryor who was Chairman of Governors from 1964-1972. A local landowner in the Framlingham area, he was the father of Selwyn Pryor who was also a governor. The family were tea planters in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He was High Sheriff of Suffolk and died in 1977.

Berners Library

Built in 1898 at a cost of £500, it was the gift of Charles Hugh Berners of Wolverstone Park a Governor. He was High Sheriff of Suffolk and High Steward of Harwich. A reference library was formed during Mr. Stock’s headmastership and was considerably extended in 1922, thanks to the generosity of Emile Moreau, a distinguished Old Framlinghamian. It was further extended and modernised in 1999 with support from the SOF.

 

 

Stocks Squash Courts

These courts are named in the memory of Francis Wilfrid Stocks who was Headmaster from 1913 to 1929. He joined the College from Felsted in 1900 and greatly encouraged sport, introducing rugby in 1924 and provided the Stocks Inter-house sports shield. He was Head during WWI and the depression of the 1920’s and did much to keep the College successful in these difficult times. He died suddenly in 1929, whilst still in post, aged 55, from septic pneumonia, and is buried in Framlingham Cemetery. ‘’Few men can have made a more indelible impression on those with whom he came into contact’’

Borrett’s All Weather Pitch

Named in memory of an outstanding sportsman Norman Francis Borrett (1917-04) (S 1931-36) Head Prefect, Captain of squash, fives, hockey, cricket, athletics and swimming Master (1950-1980), Head of Geography and latterly Second Master.

Captained Great Britain to a silver medal Hockey 1948 Olympics.

  • England Hockey : 30 caps (captain in 17) and 23 goals.
  • GB Hockey : 7 caps (captain in all) and 12 goals.
  • British Amateur Squash Champion from 1945-1950
  • English Squash: International caps
  • Essex County Cricketer: 1938-1939, and 1946.
  • Devon Minor Counties Cricketer: 1947-1959.

    Pennyfarthings

    Named after Major T.L.”Penny” Farthing ,who was Bursar from 1962 to June 1973 when he died whilst in office. The land was purchased by the Society of Old Framlinghamians in memory of him in 1973.

The Bromage Swimming Pool

The swimming pool is named after several members of the Bromage family: Ventura known as “Old Brom” or ”Vinty”, his son Neville known as “Young Brom” and Neville’s mother, Carmen. Ventura and Neville gave great service to the SOF as secretaries of the Society for 56 years from 1945 to 1976 and 1976 to 2001 respectively and were admirably supported by Carmen. “Old Brom” and Carmen kept The Crown Inn, in Brewer Street, London, which was the spiritual London home for generations of young Framlinghamians in the City in the 1950s and 60s.

The old outdoor swimming pool was named after Ventura (G24-26) and both he and Neville (G47-54) were strong swimmers. The current swimming pool, opened by British Olympic Swimmer Sharron Davies in 2000, was built through legacies and fittingly commemorates the family name. In 2002, the SOF established the Bromage Memorial Prize Fund to be awarded annually to a boy or girl who shows outstanding sporting ability at Brandeston Hall and who moves on to the College.

 

Rowley Hall

This Hall is named after Sir Joshua Rowley Bt. (1920-97). As Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk he was a member of the Corporation of Framlingham College. As a country squire he devoted his life to the county of Suffolk in so many ways and the Hall was officially open by his widow.

Alice Hall

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, GCVO, GBE, GStJ (1883-1981) was the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, in whose memory Framlingham College was founded. She was appointed College Visitor in 1949 when she officially opened Brandeston Hall. She opened the Athlone Hall in 1964 to mark the centenary of the College. She also visited the College in 1977 to open the Sports Hall.

Austin Hall

Charles Austin, an eminent lawyer, purchased Brandeston Hall in 1845. He was one of the founders of Framlingham College in 1864 and one of the first Governors. He was succeeded by his son, Charles Austin II. It is said that he lost the Hall in a gambling bet with the Duke of Hamilton who refused to accept the deeds. His son, Major Charles Austin III, sold the Hall to the Governors of Framlingham College in 1947.

Kittermaster Flat

David Darlington Kittermaster was the first Headmaster of Brandeston Hall in 1948 until his retirement in 1968. He set the school on its way and was well loved by the boys, parents and staff. It is said of him ‘’that it is all to easy to overlook the fact that every activity, every channelling of interests, had to be started from nothing … That he did this things, as well as teaching and administrating, with complete assurance and great good humour, tells of his generalship, his resilience and the complete involvement of his wife in everything he undertook.”

 

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