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Afternoon Tea
05/07/2022
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St. Francis' College before 1933
In 1919 the land between Spring Road and The Broadway was purchased by St. Christopher, a theosophist school, to allow them to expand their teaching facilities in the town . The northern part of the building that we know as the Middle School was built first and education on the site flourished. Pupils were taught outside on the Loggia. A Montessori nursery taught younger children and debates and meetings were held in the classrooms overlooking the Loggia. In 1924 it was decided to build more classrooms, a gymnasium and a purpose built theatre. The quadrangle of the Middle School was now complete and the school had some wonderful facilities, many of which were made available to the community of LetchworthPerhaps the most important feature of this expanded school was the new theatre which had space for 600 people. The foundation stone was laid in the summer of 1924 by Annie Besant a well-known reformer and theosophist. The official opening was undertaken later in the year by Dame Ellen Terry whose daughter, Edith directed one of the first plays in the new theatre. Lawrence Olivier, whose father was a rector in Letchworth, performed at the theatre in December 1924 in Through the Crack as an understudy and assistant stage manager. In April 1925 he returned to play Lennox in Macbeth. This is thought to be his first stage appearance.In 1928 St. Christopher School decided to return to their present site on Barrington Road. The building on the Broadway remained unoccupied until it was bought by the Congregation of Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary in 1933.
Gallery Photos
Chapel
Montesorri children
Annie Bessant laying foundation stone
Montessori garden
Dame Ellen Terry and her daughter Edith at official opening of Theatre
Lessons on the Loggia
School from Spring Road
Loggia lessons
School from gardens
Aerial shot of St. Christopher School
View from Spring Road
Staff in 1920s
Theatre
View from Broadway
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