Bracondale School
Bracondale School was a private boys' school in the Bracondale area of Norwich, Norfolk. It existed from 1821 to 1993.
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History
The school was opened in 1821,[1] by DB Hickey.[2] The school was sometimes known as Bracondale School for Boys.[3]
Dr Francis Darkins Wheeler was the headmaster of Paragon House School, and he brought his boys from that school, taking over Bracondale.[4] He was headmaster for 19 years; a street (Wheeler Road) on the Miles Cross Estate is named after him. A later headmaster was Frederick E Scott.[5] The headmaster until 1985 was Denzil Gaudoin.[6] The final headmaster was Dr Donald Cole (1985-1993).[7]
The school's aims and objectives were "To produce happy and decent young gentlemen who do their best, and have consideration for the welfare and feelings of others".[8] Pupils were known as Bracondolians, and Peppermint Boys, from the colour of their caps.[9] The school had its own scout group (33rd Norwich).[10] [11]
Closure
The school ran out of money, and closed suddenly in 1993.[12]
The school building was Grade II listed in 1972.[13] The list entry makes it clear that the school building was originally a house.
The school is now housing, part of a Norwich Housing Society estate built in 1999.[14] The school's war memorial remains in the main school building.[15]
Old Boys
Notable old boys include:
- Donald Cunnell, WWI flying ace.[16]
- Bill Edrich, test cricketer[17]
- Eric Edrich, first-class cricketer[18]
- Geoff Edrich, first-class cricketer[19]
- John Edrich, test cricketer
- Ralph Hale Mottram, writer and Lord Mayor of Norwich[20]
- George Skipper, architect
- Harold Theobald, cricketer and footballer
There is a Bracondale School Association;[21] when the school was still operational there was a Bracondale School Old Boys' Union.[22]
Further reading
- Bulpett, Ed (2014). The Peppermint Boys in the Great War: Discovering the Boys of Bracondale School Norwich who gave their lives in WWI. Bracondale Residents Association. ISBN 978-0-9927-4211-9.
References
- "School & College Listings: Bracondale School Association". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "Norwich Evening News: "Old boys remember a great centre of learning", 29 May 2012". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- Kelly's Directory for Norfolk, 1937, p 888.
- "Norwich Evening News: "Old boys remember a great centre of learning", 29 May 2012". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "1939 Register: 13 Bracondale, Senior School, via FindMyPast". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "School & College Listings: Bracondale School Association". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "School & College Listings: Bracondale School Association". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "Norwich Evening News: "Old boys remember a great centre of learning", 29 May 2012". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "War Memorials Online: Bracondale School". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- Kelly's Directory of Norfolk, 1956, p A42.
- 33rd Norwich Scout Group still exists. "33rd Norwich". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "Norwich Evening News: "Old boys remember a great centre of learning", 29 May 2012". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "National Heritage List Entry No 1205677". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "Housing Care: Old School Court". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "IWM War Memorials Register: Bracondale School". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "Eastern Daily Press: "When the Peppermint Boys of Bracondale went off to fight in the First World War", 9 June 2014". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "Norwich Evening News: "Old boys remember a great centre of learning", 29 May 2012". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "ESPN CricInfo: Eric Edrich". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "ESPN CricInfo: Geoff Edrich". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "Norwich Evening News: "Old boys remember a great centre of learning", 29 May 2012". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "School & College Listings: Bracondale School Association". Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "Norwich Evening News: "Old boys remember a great centre of learning", 29 May 2012". Retrieved 26 December 2020.