The School Archives

 

Following the notice of the school’s closure in March 2015, there have been a number of enquiries about the fate of the school archives. The good news is that the archives in their entirety have become the possessions of the Old St Beghian Society, which is now the sole owner of them. The archives are an important part of the school’s heritage, indeed many of the items have been donated to the school over the generations by former pupils, and in some respects they are equally significant in terms of the village’s history. So it is good to know that they have not been lost.

In general terms the archive comprises paper documents, both ancient and modern, of every description, photographs, framed and unframed, cups and trophies, paintings, old school clothing from different eras; in fact, memorabilia of all kinds. The opportunity was also taken of acquiring ownership of the furnishings and memorials in the school chapel and the seats with their presentation inscriptions in the grounds. As may be imagined, it has taken a considerable amount of sustained effort to assemble and negotiate the transfer of all this material and I should like to thank both Anthony Fox and James Davies for their assistance in this.

Most of the paper documents acquired are on long-term loan in the Whitehaven Records Office as part of an arrangement which has developed over the last decade. This ensures they will be properly catalogued and professionally conserved. Other than this, and excepting the sale at auction of some of the pictures in the teachers’ common room to raise much-needed funds for the Society, the rest of the material is presently locked away on the site until the future becomes clearer. In the meantime, the archivist welcomes any requests for information. Please contact Dr Reeve on tony@ajhreeve.plus.com or tel. 01946 822472.

Tony Reeve,

Hon. Archivist.

 

 

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk