In a new series, Estates Bursar David Anderson takes a look at the history of some of the College’s best known buildings, discussing how and why the ever-evolving campus came to look the way it does today and updating us on current and future building plans. As work gets under way in earnest on the new Music School project, David shares the drawings of the original Music School which opened in 1927.
A Brief History of the Music School
The current music school was constructed in 1927 at a cost of £8,500. Prior to this it resided in some rooms in Mansion and then in a temporary building between the Library and kitchens. This area was previously the carpenter’s workshop and then became the prep room for Eastbourne College during the time they stayed at Radley during the Second World War.
An apocryphal story perhaps, but it is said that the music school was constructed away from the main school buildings as it also housed CCF, thereby positioning two noisy parts of College life together and avoiding disturbance to lessons.
The Architects were two Old Radleians, Merriman and Knapp-Fisher. If you take a few moments to look at the drawings you might notice the efficient military style echoed in a number of other College buildings, notably Shop and the Estates Office, B Social and the Theology and Classics Classrooms and the old Warden’s house, now L Social.
The original music school was the first phase planned, with a Speech Hall to follow in what is now the Bursary Car Park. This was never built and we know the next buildings completed were B Social and classrooms, which must have become a priority.
It was not until 1984 that Silk Hall was constructed with over 250 seats and well-designed acoustics, although possibly not my favourite piece of architecture! You can see below the plans from 1983. Forty years later, and we are using the core of the existing building to extend and enhance the Music School. Read more here.
