Stoke College

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Stoke College is the name of the House which has been built round the minor remains of the Benedictine Priory founded in the year 1090 by Geoffrey of Clare at Clare Castle and transferred as a Priory to Stoke in 1124. The name Stoke College arose when in 1415 the then Priory became a College for Secular Priests.

In 1534 Dr Walter Haddon, writing in a letter from Cambridge, says of the College - "how that place seemed in a manner to be made on purpose for scholars, both to learn themselves, and to teach others: and that its situation was such that above all others it is best suited for honest and ingenious pleasures." (Soius est locus ad delectationes honestas et ingenuas aptissimas).

Matthew Parker, later to become Archbishop of Canterbury was appointed Dean in 1542 when he was presented to the Rectory of Ashen - because of its proximity to Stoke and to Cambridge. Matthew Parker founded a school in the College - a Grammar School. The children were to be instructed in good learning and the principles of Christianity. They were taught not only grammar but all other studies of humanity.

The College was dissolved in 1548 and granted to Sir John Cheke and Richard Moy (Mildmay) who purchased it. From Sir John Cheke the College passed to the Elwes family. Three or four generations of Elwes lived in the house. Their family crest - a sheaf of arrows entwined by a serpent can be seen in ceiling mouldings and on fireplace mantles. Sir Gervase - a spendthrift, careless of the Estate, was succeeded by Sir Hervey, who lived here for about 60 years amassing a fortune by spending only about £110 a year on upkeep. John Meggot, who changed his name to Elwes succeeded Sir Hervey. He lived comfortably for about 14 years then, in the family tradition, he became a miser. Unmarried, he had two sons to whom he left a million pounds.

Lord Loch bought the house from the Elwes family in 1897. The present house is mostly late 17th and early 18th century. The minor parts of the early Benedictine Priory can be seen in the great thickness of the walls in the area outside the office. These are the remains of the Norman cloisters. Along the lower corridor can be seen a blocked doorway and window of the cloisters. Monks Dormitory - still so named is on the first floor. Thick Norman walls still remain on the first floor.

The Head's Study is lined with Queen Anne panelling - as is the Computer Room - a crest can be seen over the fireplace high in the moulding of a panel. Valuable pitch pine panelling can be seen in the panelled dormitory (extension of the Monks' Dormitory). The staircase has hand-turned twisted balusters. The Library is 18th century with a fine Adam fireplace. The Bachelors' Wing and Art Room (billiard room) were designed by Lutyens - who was the uncle of Lady Loch. He also planned the layout of the garden.

In the early 1940's Lord Loch died. Lady Loch went to live in London and the house was virtually closed.

'Grenville' was the name chosen for the small school which was founded in Clare a little over 50 years ago. It existed in the building known as 'The Norfolks' for a while before being acquired by Miss Elliot and Miss McLoad, who had previously been senior lecturers, training teachers at Bingley College in Yorkshire, in 1951. They became joint Principals.

This school was so successful that it quickly grew in size and new premises had to be found. The house recently vacated by the Loch family proved ideal and the school moved in 1954. Miss Elliot and Miss Mcload lived in the school and it continued to grow and flourish. There were teas in the front study with cucumbers from the garden, music appreciation with Miss Elliot, horses in the paddock and plenty of ghosts in the building to keep pupils on their toes.

In 1969, Miss Elliot retired and Martin Gedney became the first Headmaster of Stoke College. This was a time of great change and in 1973 it was decided that the name of the school should be changed to Stoke College. A board of Governors was constituted made up of local people having a strong interest in the school. It has flourished as a co-educational, day and weekly boarding school since then, proudly bearing the name of the original Monastic College, founded in 1415.

Stoke College
Day & Boarding School, 3 to 16, Co-educational, 180+ pupils, Non-denom

Stoke College

Stoke-by-Clare,
Suffolk,
CO10 8JE
England

Tel: 01787 278141

Fax: 01787 277904

E-mail: Contact School

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