Talk:Old Swinford Hospital

Start

Just want to know why Dean Headley was taken off the old boys list --enock 17:11, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

seems to be back now Qleem 22:43, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

infobox, refs, pics?Victuallers 20:06, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

Frank Bruno

I've removed Frank Bruno as I attended the school for 7 years and never heard mention of his name as an Old Foleyan. All sources I can find re: Bruno tell me he grew up in the London area. I notice that the addition of him was down to a user called 'Mwroffe' - if this IS actually the Mr. M. W. Roffe who is currently headmaster, I apologise and please feel free to revert the edit as you see fit. My suspicion is, however, that this could be a case of someone assuming an identity! Will2710 02:29, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

Will, I doubt very much that Melvyn had anything to do with the Bruno addition, so you were perfectly correct in deleting it. Incidentally, if you wish to do a bit of editing, you might add that Peter Jones has been appointed the new Headmaster. The school is currently advertising for a new Deputy Head. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.37.221.234 (talk • contribs) 18:36, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

State rather than independent

Altered the intro paragraph to show that it is a state (taxpayer funded) school rather than an independent (private fees funded) school. I guess that it's confusing with the state boarding status, but it isn't an independent school if it's a state boarding school.Angelamaher (talk) 20:25, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Sir Christopher Wren?

I take issue with the claim made that, based simply on design features of the tower lantern, the original school building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

Firstly, Old Swinford Hospital was not a 'modern' building at the time of building (1667-1670) There was evidence when the attics at the rear of the building were demolished in the early 1950's that Thomas Foley had made use of 'recycled' timbers in the roof - the bricks were in all likelihood made in his own brickyards on the Lye road. It is most unlikely that an architect of the eminence of Sir Christopher Wren would have been involved in a building as rustic and basic as Old Swinford Hospital. On stylistic grounds he may have been influential in the design for the neighbouring St Thomas' Church.

Secondly, an early 19th century print of Old Swinford Hospital shows, quite clearly, a two storey brick building with a central tower capped by a simple pyramidal tiled roof, fronted by a walled yard.

In the mid/late 19th century the front of the old building was raised to three storeys to provide additional accommodation. The raising of the roof level neccesitated the raising of the height of the central tower (the line where the new and old brickword join is clearly visible). The 'classical' lantern was added at that time as an ornamental feature.

I was a boarding pupil in the early 1950's when the old attics at the back of the old block were demolished and the rear of the building raised to the same level as the front. The old roof timbers were very evidently recycled. At that date the tower had begun to tilt and it was feared it would collapse - it was discovered that it was 'balanced' on a decaying oak beam not designed to take the additional weight of the several tons of 19th century brick and wooden lantern. All very exciting to a rabble of 13 year olds who relished the thought that the school might fall down!! We burnt the old timbers on bonfire night. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.37.78.38 (talk) 19:52, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

It is my understanding that the architect is known. I have altered "thought" to "claimed": I expect that the claim has been made is verifiable. While Thoams Foley certainly owned some of the land that was an early source of firebricks, they are not what the school was built of. I certainly do not know of evidence that he ran his own commercial brickyards. The use of recycled timbers (of that is what they were) does not rule out Wren being the designer: the claim is not that he built the school. Peterkingiron (talk) 12:56, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

As the claim is obviously utter tosh, shouldn't it just be removed? When I was there it was known that the building had been changed from two-storey to three in the 19th century (when its sister was built IIRC) so the Wren-like bits had to be additions. I don't remember any suggestion back then that the building was Wren. Allen Brown (talk) 11:41, 1 October 2010 (UTC)

Examination wise?

"Examination wise," in the fifth paragraph of the Academics section, seems to grate on the ear, and is of questionable grammical construction. Any one else think that this is the case? enock 15:02, 11 April 2009 (PST)

A little yes [I was responsible for the original paragraph]. Perhaps "In terms of examinations" would be better?? Formula1fanatic (talk) 15:09, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

Houses

There are now 7 houses (one opened this year, 2009), the 7th is Potter House. I will add details as to changes in the other houses soon (e.g. baxter housmaster, tie details etc.) Please could someone edit the page to include this. Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lauranbill (talk • contribs) 10:33, 30 October 2009 (UTC)

Former Houses

I see that in the houses section there is now discussion of former houses at the school, with Lyttelton House being added. I was hoping someone could back me up, or correct me if I am wrong, but at some point was there a house called Stone House? I am sure that I remember reading on the Foley Trophy winners board that Stone had won it. I could be wrong, but again it would be an additional bit of information for the article if there was.

Formula1fanatic (talk) 15:11, 28 September 2010 (UTC)

I only added it because it was my old house. That was 1972 to 1977. Foster, Foley, Lyttelton, Dudley, Chance and one other but I can't remember it. Four were boarding houses and two were for day boys. This is original research! 22:37, 29 September 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Allenbrown (talk • contribs)

Fair enough, I was in Baxter myself. I thought mentioning the older houses were just interesting little bits for the article. Formula1fanatic (talk) 08:45, 30 September 2010 (UTC)

There definitely was a Stone House - It was the other day pupil's house along with Chance. Two of the Old Folean's committee members attended it. See http://www.oldfoleyans.com/committee.htm. Maybe someone can explain what happened to them. Maybe day pupils are assigned to the boarding houses now?Tastybento (talk) 18:30, 9 January 2013 (UTC)