A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION OF
School days at St. Joseph's College
PELL WALL HALL
MARKET DRAYTON, IN THE COUNTY OF SHROPSHIRE
by John Graham Rollason
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My first recollections of Pell Wall go back to a distant Wednesday in early September 1948, when at the tender age of 11 years, I had left home to start my secondary Education at Saint Joseph’s College, Pell Wall. St. Joseph’s was a Catholic Boarding and Day School for boys situated on the outskirts of the small north Shropshire market town of Market Drayton.
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of
Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
My father had taken me to Wolverhampton station to catch the Shrewsbury train from London (a real Steam Engine!) where I joined and met up with other older boys returning to St. Joseph’s for the new school year. I remember being met and placed in the charge of Gerald Griffiths, who was Head Boy at that time, and who from that day forward always seemed to take a particular interest in my welfare.
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The main entrance to St. Joseph’s College |
The front aspect of Pell Wall Hall in 1953 |
My first impressions of Pell Wall were of a large rambling country house, which was so much larger than my family home in Upper Gornal, Sedgley, near Dudley in Worcestershire, and which to my young and uneducated eye, had such magnificent architectural features. I particularly recall the beautiful marble staircase which ran from the Main Hall up to a higher balcony from which one had a commanding view of the hall below where games of Billiards or Snooker were played by the senior boys of the time, and which in later years I was also to enjoy so much myself. A further feature that I remember fondly was the beautiful Chapel where for the whole of my school years I was to attend daily Mass.
The Chapel
The chapel was the focus for the many celebrations of the Church’s liturgy on major feast days throughout the year. I recall with particular pleasure, largely because such events have largely vanished from the Church’s current liturgy, the celebration of Corpus Christi with it’s processions through the grounds of Pell Wall, when flower petals would be strewn before the Blessed Sacrament by a group of the younger boys. Particular attention was always given to the celebration of St. Joseph’s feast day on March 19th, who was of course our patron saint. This day was always celebrated as a school holiday, commencing with a specially rehearsed sung High Mass, followed in the afternoon by the playing of soccer House matches and an evening meal with a special treat for a sweet. The day usually ended with the showing of a film, one which I remember particularly well was ‘Good Bye Mr. Chips’.
I was to spend the next six and half formative years of my life in this environment, being taught by the Brothers of Christian Instruction, a French order of Catholic Brothers founded in 1819 by Jean Marie de la Mennais and whose Mother House was at Ploermel in Brittany in Northern France. The administrative centre being in Rome. A sister College, St. Mary’s, also existed at Bittern Park in Southampton. A friendly rivalry existed between the two establishments and this was sometimes put to the test on the playing fields of both schools.
Little did I know at that time of the architectural and historic importance of the building with which I was to become so familiar. I was also blissfully unaware of the lasting influence and importance that the Catholic education I was receiving would have on my future life. The school, together with its environment and surroundings, was most conducive to a quiet Christian academic atmosphere. The education and life-style provided was both disciplined and caring.
The Main Hall
Pell Wall as I knew it in those days was situated in 49 acres of the most beautiful wooded parkland and boasted a cascade of three lakes. These were surrounded by a ‘amphitheatre’ of Rhododendron shrubs, which sported a magnificent display of varied colour in early summer. The upper lake provided an opportunity for the boys not only for fishing, with it’s wealth of Roach, but also for swimming on balmy summer days. Many are the boys who will remember having made their first faltering strokes in those somewhat murky waters, myself amongst them. The grounds also had large sports fields which became the ‘battle grounds’ for fiercely fought matches of both Soccer and Cricket in season, between the two Houses of Manning and Newman and against other schools in the area. The school Houses were named after two of the most famous of English Cardinals. A particular rivalry existed between Market Drayton Grammar School and ourselves.
The 1st X1 Soccer Team - 1951 - 52 Season
I also recall with a shiver some memorable ‘snowballing battles’ taking place between the two Houses when the winters, which seemed in those days to be so much more wintry than now, covered the grounds with thick layers of snow.
(The History of Pell Wall
It might be appropriate at this stage to introduce a brief history of Pell Wall, it’s occupancy and architectural background. During it’s existence Pell Wall has been known variously as Pell Wall House and during it’s later years and certainly during the period while it was a school, as Pell Wall Hall. Pell Wall when I viewed it again after so many years in early 1996 was a derelict shell having been gutted by fire in 1986. I was reminded of Thornfield, the house that suffered a similar fate in Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jayne Eyre.
Pell Wall House (or Villa to be correct) was constructed between 1822 and 1828 to a design by the architect Sir John Soane and was the only complete domestic work of his later years. It was constructed for a Mr. Purney Sillitoe, a wealthy iron merchant, who had become a firm friend of the architect and whose family was to reside in the house until Sillitoe’s death in 1855. The chief contractor was John Carline of Shrewsbury who quoted £4,409 for the construction of the main shell. Costs inevitably escalated and the contract was renegotiated with John carline finally being paid £4,961. two other important trades engaged during the construction were J Cottingham & Son, a firm of London plumbers and W R Perry a joiner who was paid £1.716 for the woodwork in the house. In all, the total cost of building Pell Wall together with its outbuildings, was the princely sum of £20,976
The original Villa, for that is what it was, was compact, and very much a Soane model, with a dramatic central staircase and north facing principal rooms which benefited from the magnificent view over the Tern valley looking towards Market Drayton, with the parish church of St. Mary’s clearly visible on the horizon. The exterior of the house was faced in Grinshill sandstone, with refined incised detail.
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Artists impression of the original central staircase |
The reinstated central staircase awaiting completion in 2003 |
Artists impression of the North facing ladies Morning Room
The above 3 pictures reproduced courtesy of Jackson-Stops, Estate Agents
Between 1872 and 1928, whilst still being used as a private country house, it was to suffer from a series of damaging architectural interventions. The Victorians completely destroyed the Soane interior, re-sited the staircase and constructed a major new wing across the full length of the south side of the original house. They also destroyed Soane’s service wing with it’s tall chimney stack. Later Edwardian additions included an indoor swimming pool and billiard room on the south-east corner. These additions were of poor construction and lacking in architectural merit.
It was between the years of 1928 and 1962 that the house was occupied by The Brothers of Christian Instruction and became initially, a theological college for the Order and then subsequently two years later, St. Joseph’s College.
The Original Soane Villa and Service Wing
(Drawn by Mr Barry Clayton)
The school was closed in 1962 due to economic circumstances, the result of legislation requiring considerable expenditure to bring the building up to the then required standard. The building subsequently remained unoccupied until 1965 when it was bought by a Mr Ronald Rolf, who for the next twenty years was to frustrate conservationists, as he not only allowed the House to fall into disrepair, but actively dismantled it himself. Finally, a three day ‘mystery’ fire gutted the property in May 1986.
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The Victorian Wing. (The Chapel) |
N.E. Elevation of Soane’s Villa. (The front of Pell Wall) |
The Edwardian Wing (The Blue Dormitory) |
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Remains of the Columns from the Main Hall |
The old swimming pool underneath the Sports Hall |
I
was to renew my acquaintance with Pell Wall through my meeting again, after many years, an old friend from my school days, Pelham Cole. The college had always managed to retain an active central caucus of Old Boys, largely through the efforts of Gerald Griffiths and Brian Ford. Little did I realise that my visit to Pell Wall in early 1996 was to be the catalyst in my being able to renew so many friendships forged in those far off days, but unfortunately
Members of the Steering Committee on site
Lt. to Rt. John Southall, Pelham Cole, Ugo Basini, Brian Ford, Bro. Augustine, Barry Clayton, Aldo Sidoli, Gerald Griffiths
neglected over the intervening years. Pelham Cole, by way of his profession as a surveyor, had developed an interest in architecture and most particularly in the work of Sir John Soane. Sir John was the architect of such well known buildings as the Bank of England, The Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Tyringham Hall in Buckinghamshire and many others
The Lantern Light under construction in April 1998
throughout England, not least, that of our own Pell Wall. Pell Wall Hal was Sir John Soane’s last domestic work of which he wrote ‘In composing plans for this Villa, my best energies have been exerted, intending that, when completed, my professional labours should cease.’ Pell Wall might have been lost to the history of English architecture were it not for the vision and determination of The Pell Wall Preservation Trust.
Architects Barry Clayton and John Wibberley, both passionate about Soane’s work, and with considerable experience with his buildings, are the key figures behind the Trust. As a result of their considerable efforts, plans for the restoration of the Pell Wall to it’s original Soane design were selected from forty others, to be the recipient of a £1 million grant from English Heritage. Pelham had, in the meantime, been asked by the Trustees to initiate a National Lottery application, to enable the Pell Wall Preservation Trust to restore Pell Wall to John Soane’s original vision. The Trust’s initial proposal was to demolish what remained of the Victorian and Edwardian extensions and to reconstruct authentically the shell of Soane’s original Villa, with the interior to be dealt with likewise at a later date.
Below is an extract from English Heritage's 'Archaeology Review 1997-98, 4.10' which records the award of the £1 million grant and its usage.
Pell Wall Hall, a villa designed by Sir John Soane in his final years between 1822 and 1829, was gutted by fire in 1987. The Pell Wall Trust was then formed to restore the building to its original appearance by removing later accretions with a £1,000,000 grant from English Heritage; the repairs to the exterior masonry envelope and structure are now complete. The restoration has been based on a careful study of the surviving fabric and the original documentation preserved at the Soane Museum. £25,000 of the repair grant was earmarked for recording and analysis of the building, which has been undertaken by the architects for the Trust. The record consists of drawings and photographs cross referenced by architectural feature with Soane's original documentation. The building is ready to progress to fitting out and the Pell Wall Hall Trust is working with the Landmark Trust to obtain a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the next stage. The interiors will be restored where possible to their original appearance. The architects are considering options for the publication of their research.
The first phase of this work was completed in June 1998.
Pelham and I visited the ruin of our old school in late May 1996. English Heritage had made the shell of the building waterproof by surrounding it with scaffolding and shrouding the roof with tarpaulins. It was indeed a sorry sight and the evidence of the 1986 fire was much in evidence. All of the flooring and woodwork had been gutted, the roof gone and the external stonework showed the ravages of the ensuing neglect. The surrounds of the building were overgrown with the encroaching shrubbery and the old tennis court (our erstwhile playground) was completely overgrown. My thoughts however were taken back over the intervening years, when pushing through the undergrowth, I discovered the ‘cricket stumps’ that had been painted on the rear wall of the playground (originally the house tennis courts) all those years ago, and which had been the source of so many pleasant recreational hours spent honing the skills of ‘Leather and Willow’. The playground had also been used for playing football and for roller-skating by us boys during recreational breaks between lessons and at lunchtimes. I'm sure that had Torvill and Dean been around in those days in the early 50’s, they might well have had to face some stiff competition. Ice Skating on the upper lake was also an occasional pursuit of some of the Brothers when the winters were hard enough for produce a sufficiently thick layer of ice.
Due to the enthusiasm of both Gerald Griffiths, Brian Ford and Pelham Cole, a Steering Committee of St. Joseph’s Old Boys was formed to try and co-ordinate the incorporation of some structural element within the proposed restoration, which would be a permanent memorial of the time when Pell Wall acted as home to St. Joseph’s College. It had previously been suggested by a member of the Preservation Trust that the Lantern Light, that was to be installed in the roof over the main staircase, might be such a suitable element. Hence the Inaugural Meeting of the ‘St. Joseph’s College Old Boys Lantern Light Appeal Committee’ took place on the 13th July 1997 at the Four Alls Hotel, Woodseaves, about a mile from Pell wall on the Newport to Market Drayton Road. The following members were elected:- Gerald Griffiths (Chair) Brian Ford (Secretary) Aldo Sidoli (Treasurer) together with Pelham Cole, John Southall, Ugo Basini and Graham Rollason. The committee were also delighted to welcome Brother Augustine to the group as President. Brother Augustine had shown a great interest in the proposed restoration, having himself taught at Pell Wall many years previously. The committee approved the proposal that the Old Boys would attempt to raise the necessary funding to re-instate the ‘Lantern Light’, that was to be re-installed in the roof, to the
A Phoenix rises!
original Soane design. With this objective in mind the committee set about raising the estimated sum of £15,000. In early 1997 all the Old Boys whose addresses were known, were circulated with a letter informing them of the proposed restoration of Pell Wall and of the Steering Committee’s proposals regarding the provision and funding of the Lantern Light. Contributions were sought with a view to raising as much of the £15,000 as possible. Pledges and donations of cash were received over the following months and the fund began to grow. The Steering Committee continued to have regular meetings, these always taking place at ‘The Four Alls Hotel’.
The committee relaxing over a meal at The Four Alls Hotel
These meetings were always well attended and looked forward to eagerly by the committee members. The meetings which took place on a Sunday at noon were followed by a pleasant sociable lunch when ‘Old Times‘ were inevitably part of the menu. During several of these ‘get togethers’ the opportunity was taken by the Committee members to visit the site of the ongoing restoration work and to view the progress and developments. Progress at first seemed slow but soon the restoration work being undertaken began to give us an impression as to how the restored Soane Villa would eventually look.
Seeing The Four Alls again brought back further memories of those far off school days. It had been the custom on Sunday afternoons for all of the boys to undertake walks around the neighbourhood, under the supervision of one of the Brothers. These walks often took us past the Four Alls and the adjacent wooden hut lovingly known as 'The Tuck shop' and which sold drinks, sweets and chocolate. Of course it was ‘de rigueur’ for us all to stop there and spend some of our meagre pocket money - happy days!.
In early November 1997 a ‘Hog Roast Buffet’ was organised by Gerald Williamson at The Tern Hill Hotel, near Market Drayton in order to help raise funds for the appeal. Gerald had attended Pell Wall in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. This was not to be solely a fund-raising opportunity but it was thought that the current stage of the restoration of Pell Wall would be an ideal time for the Old Boys to have one of their infrequent ’re-unions’. During the evening, inevitably much of the conversation centred around the ongoing restoration and the role that the Old Boys were endeavouring to play in this important work. The Evening was a great success, attended by approximately 40 Old Boys, many with their wives or partners. It was interesting to note that those present represented attendance at St. Joseph’s covering the years from the 1930’s through to the 1950’s. Memories were stretched as people struggled to recall names and faces but a great deal of ‘bon hommie’ was shared and enjoyed.
A Committee meeting took place on April 26th 1998 when the members present were taken on a guided tour of the site by Mr. Barry Pitt, a member of the Preservation Trust as well as being a member of Market Drayton Civil Trust. Barry lived in Market Drayton and had been actively involved since the inception of the project.
The old dormitories, in the Edwardian Wing on the ground floor, had been demolished and the interior of the main building had taken on a new configuration that had the Committee members finding difficulty in orientating themselves, having only known the building as it was in their school days. It was obvious to all that the restoration was being carried out to a very high standard by the contractors, Frank Galliers Ltd. of Shrewsbury, who had considerable past experience in this type of work. We were informed that the first phase of the restoration would be completed by early June and that further progress would, to a large extent, be dependent upon the outcome of the further National Heritage Funding application, and also the application for Lottery Funding, which were both now under consideration.
The first Annual General Meeting of St. Joseph’s Old Boys Lantern Light Appeal Steering Committee took take place on the 31st May 1998. A number of old boys attended and were given a brief history of Pell Wall and the restoration to date by Mr. Barry Clayton. This was followed by an opportunity for all to visit the site and see the nearly completed work of Phase1 of the restoration. Those present with a head for heights were able to go onto the roof and see the actual installation of the Lantern Light. Everyone came away greatly impressed by what they had seen. The roof had been beautifully re-instated using green Westmoreland Slate and the use of much Lead flashing. In the course of the ensuing chat, it was very apparent that this was not the first time that certain members present had been on the roof!! Their names of course are a closely guarded secret!!
At the AGM that followed the site visit, an amendment to the constitution was passed, unanimously approving the release of a proportion of the accumulated fund. This was to offset some of the expenditure incurred in the making and installation in the roof of the Lantern Light. The meeting heard from the treasurer that a sum of £4514.72 was available and at a Steering Committee meeting that followed the AGM, approval was granted for the release of £4000 to the Pell Wall Preservation Trust.
The Lantern Light finally on site
All concerned now anxiously await the outcome of the National Lottery application, the result of which is anticipated in the early autumn of 1998. I’m sure that we all look forward with anticipation to the completion of the restoration of Pell Wall Hall to its former glory as originally envisaged by Sir John Soane.
The author hopes that it will not be too long before he might be able to add the concluding chapter to this personal recollection.
June 1998
Since 1998 all the architectural additions to the building, which were not part of the original Soane building, have been demolished and removed from the site. The exterior is now as it was when completed in 1828. The interior of the building has been made waterproof and secure. Further funding to enable the Trustees to complete the interior in accordance with Soane's original idea has been unobtainable and the further application to the English Heritage has been turned down. The application for funding from the National Lottery was also unfortunately turned down. This left the Trustees in something of a dilemma. How were they to progress their dream of restoring the interior of the building?
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Pell Wall - Main Entrance on East Side 2003 |
Pell Wall - The North Side seen from the Park |
The above pictures courtesy of Jackson-Stops
It was decided to try and find purchasers of the property who, in making use of the building would undertake to reinstate the interior to an acceptable standard. Numerous and various efforts have been made to identify such potential purchasers, all without success. It was finally , and somewhat sadly, decided to place the property in the hands of a suitable Estate Agent with a view to a sale to a private purchaser. The sale was to be handled by Jackson-Stops of London. The sale was to be by tender and not by auction as the Trustees wished, as for as was possible, to ensure that any future purchaser was in sympathy with the building and would be willing and financially able, to restore the interior in an appropriate manner. Jackson-Stops have held two open days
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Pell Wall -East Front and South Elevations |
Pell Wall - North and West Elevations |
for potential purchasers to view the house, these being on January 28th and February 8th 2003. Some 600 plus interested parties have taken the this opportunity to view Pell Wall, many traveling considerable distances and one in particular, flying in from Monaco.
On this day the committee held what might well be their last meeting. At this meeting it was decided that a suitable recognition to St. Joseph's College and the the time that it occupied Pell Wall should be incorporated into one of the panes of glass which will ultimately be used to glaze the Lantern Light. A suitable design and form of wording was agreed. It is hoped therefore that a pane of glass will be engraved with the School Badge and the following wording included:-
"The provision of this Lantern Light was financially supported by former pupils and staff at St. Joseph's College".
Contacts are being made with a view to this work being carried out.
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Pell Wall - North Elevation |
Pell Wall - West Elevation |
The trustees now await with considerable interest the outcome of these visits and the receipt of tenders for purchase.
The results of this process will be updated to this website when known.
My personal thanks are due to all the Committee members, with a special acknowledgement to Mr. Pelham Cole and Mr. Barry Clayton, who took the time to read this document in it’s draft form and to correct my errors of fact and to make constructive comments as to its improvement.
It is with much sadness that I have to report the death of one of the Lantern Light Committee members - Mr Ugo Basini sadly passed away on Wednesday 5th February 2003. - Requiescat in Pace.
Update July 2003 I have been informed by Mr John Southall that a private buyer has been found for Pell Wall. He intends to use it as his family home and intends to return it to a country house having undertaken to continue it's authentic restoration.
Update September 2004 On Sunday 26th September the Old Boys met once again at The Tern Hill Hall Hotel for Sunday Lunch. A very pleasant time was enjoyed by all and it was good to see a few new faces attending. Conversation, as always, centered around reminiscences of the past and an acknowledgement that sadly we are all growing older and greyer - that is those who still have some hair to boast about!! A group photograph was taken and is shown here. a group in good mood having enjoyed a satisfying lunch. Amongst the group can be seen Harold Morris, Rex Nadine, John Southall, Roy Serle and Graham Rollason. Unfortunately as at the present time I do not have a satisfactory photograph of the whole group - if anyone can help here I would be most grateful.
Now that the new occupants have taken up residence at Pell Wall, moves are afoot to install the proposed memorial of the time that St. Joseph's occupied the Hall. It has been decided that it might be more appropriate to have the memorial sited in the grounds of the Hall rather than in the Lantern Light itself, where it will be readily available for all visitors to see it - as a result the idea of a glazed pane in the Lantern light has been abandoned. The wording as shown above will be retained, with slight modification of the wording to accommodate the change of the new site. The current proposal is to have a stone carving with glass inserts in the colours of St. Joseph's and Sir John Soane (that is Old Gold, Brown and for Sir John, Amber.) The present occupants have been very supportive of these suggestion
Update February 2010 Pell wall has once again been sold on to a private individual who promises great things for Pell Wall's future. You can read about this at the following link and also some associated reflections from a couple of old boys: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/shropshire/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8518000/8518410.stm
Update May 2010. On Sunday May 9th 2010 approximately 60 old boys met once again for their biannual reunion. This took place at the Tern Hill Hotel near Market Drayton where we had met for several years previously. We all enjoyed a wonderful 4 course Sunday Lunch after having met in the Lounge Bar and renewed old acquaintances. After lunch the afternoon was spent catching up with old school friends and reminiscing after events long since past but which were held dear in many memories. A raffle was held in aid of the local hospice, the prizes kindly donated by a old boy and his wife who unfortunately were unable to attend at the last moment. Thanks were offered to Gerald Williamson and his wife Margaret for once again organising the event. Our intention, God willing is to meet up again in a further 2 years - same time same place - date to be decided! You can view some photographs of the event HERE
Site Updated: 06/04/2011
