Beaufort House opened ready for the Winter term of 1929, construction having concluded earlier that year, and housed just 28 boys in its first term. On Speech Day in 1930, Beaufort House was officially opened by His Grace the Duke of Beaufort and his wife. Having opened in 1923 with just three houses, Franklin House, Wimborne House and School House, Beaufort was created to support the quick expansion of pupil numbers at Canford within its early years. A year later, Monteacute house was created and shared the Beaufort building.
Extract from the ‘Bath Chronicle and Herald’, Saturday 5th July 1930.
"The Headmaster (Mr C. B. Canning, MA), said it was with very great pleasure he asked his Grace to declare the building open.
The Beaufort House Master (Capt. A. R. B. Simpson) said it fell to him to tell his Grace how glad they were to greet him, and gratified to add one more to the list of appearances on the map of the name of Beaufort, which occurred from South Australia to the Arctic Ocean. A royal name such as Beaufort was bound to have a lot of imitators.
The name of teat House was no causal choice, but was based on a long ancestry of association which was typified by the building they knew as John O' Gaunt's. Over 400 years ago, Canford Manor, which a hundred years earlier as still part of the estate of Cardinal Beaufort, belonged to Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, who made that her home. She was the daughter of John Beaufort, the first Duke of Somerset, and was buried in Wimborne Minster. She had been described as one of the few worthy and high-minded people in a rather cruel and selfish age. Not only was she the lady of the manor, but she was an outstanding lady of her time also, and particularly interested in education.
C. T. M. Beamish (head prefect of the House), said that on behalf of Beaufort House, he desired to say how much they appreciated the presence of the Duke and Duchess, and the honour they had done them by being present. He asked his Grace to accept the key (which was enclosed in a case) as a memento of the occasion.
His Grace said he was very honoured when he received the invitation to come there, and pleased that he was able to accept. He was also very glad that House should bear the name of Beaufort. He would like to thank the House for so kindly giving him that key, which he would always value. His Grace then opened the main entrance door of the new House, and formally declared it open. Three resounding cheers were raised."
Post your own comment