Our history

Discover more about the history of Downe House using our timeline.

1900
1907

Founded by Miss Olive Willis and Miss Alice Carver at Downe House, the former home of Charles Darwin, in the village of Downe in Kent.

1922

The School moved to Berkshire in March 1922 to start the Summer Term. Whole buildings are moved from Kent to Cold Ash. Construction of a new kitchen, music rooms and a gym started. Six classrooms and a laboratory are built and the Studio is completed.

1929

The Library is opened by the Duchess of Atholl. The staff house on Red Shute Hill becomes the Medical Centre.

1930

Excavation and construction of an outdoor swimming pool begins.

1932

The new Dining Room and the South Wing (now Tedworth) are opened.

1934

The Concert Room, Chemistry and Biology Labs are built.

1940s

A view from the Cloisters.

1946

Every year, Seniors’ Weekend welcomed back alumnae with a massed gym display in the Cloisters.

1957

The School’s 50th birthday: Construction starts on the Jubilee Hall and a commemorative tree is planted to mark the anniversary.

1967

The first Science Block is opened by Professor Dorothy Hodgkin and Garden House was built as a Sixth Form Block.

1970s

Aerial view of the Downe House campus.

1990

The new Science Block is opened by Lady Plowden, Old Senior.

1990-96

The French Project begins and moves to Veyrines-de-Domme in 1991. Cohorts of girls start to spend a term in France which has become a highlight of every girl’s education at Downe House.

1997

Mrs Emma McKendrick is appointed Headmistress – Mrs McKendrick is still Headmistress today.

2001

The Farr Centre is opened by Old Senior, Clare Balding, a world-renowned TV presenter.

2007

Downe House celebrates 100 years! Centenary celebrations include an event at St Paul’s Cathedral in London attended by four Headmistresses, Reunions for the DHSA, an Academic Study Day, Institution of the Medley Lectures, a Staff Fun Day, and a Girls’ Fun Day. Dr Christian Alexander, a member of the music staff, is commissioned to compose an opera ‘Olive Triumphant’ and a commemorative mulberry tree is planted by the Concert Room.

2015

New Lower School Boarding Houses are opened to accommodate Darwin, Hermitage and Hill.

2018

The Murray Centre opens – with a new 250-seat Auditorium, Library, Collaborative Learning space and a Coffee Shop.

2022

Opening in 2022, Downe House Riyadh and Downe House Muscat are the first premium, British girls’ schools to open in Saudi Arabia and Oman.

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