Westminster School

Westminster School (in full, The Royal College of St. Peter at Westminster, but almost always referred to as Westminster School, or even just Westminster, for short) is an ancient English public school, located by Westminster Abbey in Westminster, in central London, and with a history stretching back to the 12th century. Its A-level results over many of the past 20 years, including both 2004 and 2005, have been the highest in the country. The Head Master up to July 2005 was Tristram Jones-Parry, who has been replaced by Dr. Stephen Spurr.

Notable buildings

The 14th century Abbot's state dining hall, now named 'College Hall', may be one of the oldest and finest examples of medieval refectory in existence. The School still uses it for its original purpose every day in term-time, whilst during the holidays it reverts to the Dean, as the Abbot's successor.

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'College' (now shared between the three Houses of College, Dryden's and Wren's) is a dressed stone building overlooking College Garden, the former monastery's Infirmary garden which is now the property of Westminster Abbey. It dates from 1729, and was designed by the Earl of Burlington based on earlier designs from Sir Christopher Wren (himself an Old Westminster).

Related Topics:
Earl of Burlington - Christopher Wren

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'School', the School's main hall and former monks' Dormitory, is used for Latin Prayers (a weekly assembly with prayers spoken in the Westminster-dialect of Latin), exams, and large concerts, plays and the like. From 1599 onwards it was used to teach all the pupils, the Upper and Lower Schools being split by a curtain hung from a 16th century bar made of pig iron, which remains the largest piece of pig iron in the world. The stone steps and entranceway to School have been attributed as the work of Inigo Jones, and are engraved with the names of many pupils who used to hire a stonemason for the purpose, although the practice is now discontinued. The panelling "up School" is similarly, but officially, painted with the coats of arms of many former pupils. The Shell-shaped apse at the North end of School gave its name to the forms taught there and the corresponding classes at many other public schools.

Related Topics:
Assembly - Latin - 16th century - Pig iron - Inigo Jones - Public schools

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The roofs of both School and College were destroyed by an incendiary bomb in 1941 dropped as part of The Blitz, the buildings being re-opened by George VI in 1950.

Related Topics:
1941 - The Blitz - George VI - 1950

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Ashburnham House, which today houses the library and many classrooms, was built by Inigo Jones or John Webb around the time of the Restoration, as a London seat for the Earls of Ashburnham. It incorporates remains of the mediaeval Prior's House, and its garden is the site of some of the earliest sittings of the House of Commons. In the eighteenth century it housed the King's and Cottonian libraries, which form the basis of the British Library.

Related Topics:
House of Commons - British Library

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During the Second World War, the library was used as a communications station for the Royal Air Force. In 1969, it was used as one of the locations for the film The Magic Christian.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Royal Air Force - 1969

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