The School on the Hill

Harrow is one of England's greatest public schools. It was founded by a yeoman farmer, John Lyon, in 1572 and was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth 1.

Among its many famous scholars have been Peel, Percival, Goderich, Aberdeen, Palmerston, Earl Baldwin and the late Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, who all became Prime Ministers. Lord Harrowby and the third Lord Spencer all refused the position.

The school headgear is a flat straw hat of somewhat peculiar shape. The school motto is: "Stet fortuna domus." (May the good fortune of the House endure).

The school today has eleven boarding houses and some six-hundred boys altogether. Owing to the steep sides and twisting spine of the hill it was impossible to build large cloistered courts for the school, so the buildings, with a charm of their own, cling to the side of the hill.

The oldest and most interesting of the school buildings is the one containing the Fourth Form Room, which is now reserved for show and certain ceremonial occasions. It has Tudor windows dating from 1608, and oak panellings on which are carved countless names of former students. The Chapel, built between 1854-59, was the work of Sir Gilbert Scott.

Across the terraces are the Museum buildings, noted for a beautiful collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities. There is also a valuable set of coins, geological specimens, stuffed birds and a beautiful open staircase.

Eamonn O'Connell. Form 3C


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