
History of Prior Park College
Extract from 'The Phoenix' - a history of Prior Park written by Father Peter Cornwell, former College Chaplain.
"Prior Park College was born in the nineteenth century, the dream of a Benedictine Bishop, Peter Augustine Baines. He believed that as the Catholic Church re-emerged from years of persecution it needed educated priests and an educated laity. It was a wildly ambitious scheme, embracing not just a school but a seminary and university as well, housed in the glorious Palladian Mansion built by Ralph Allen overlooking Bath"
1735 | The foundations for the Mansion and the wings were laid |
1737 | The west wing (St Paul's) and part of the Mansion were completed |
1743 | The Prior Park buildings were finished |
1764 | Ralph Allen died at Prior Park |
1829 | The Prior Park Estate (over 168 acres) was purchased by Bishop Baines for £22,000 |
1836 | The interior of the mansion was destroyed by fire |
1830 | Prior Park College opened as a school for the first time |
1844 | Foundation stone of the College Chapel was laid by Bishop Baggs |
1856 | The College effects were auctioned off and the College closed down |
1867 | Pupils and Staff of Catholic Grammar School, Clifton moved to Bath and Prior Park College reopened |
1882 | College Chapel solemnly opened for divine service |
1889 | The swimming bath was formerly opened by Bishop Clifford |
1895 | The College was taken over by the Christian Brothers on a 7 year lease |
1902 | The Christian Brothers left |
1904 | Prior Park closed down again |
1921 | The buildings and 53 acres were purchased by the Christian Brothers |
1924 | Boarders and some staff from St Brendan's were transferred to Bath and Prior Park re-opened |
1929 | The Prior Park Association was re-founded |
1932 | The organ gallery was added to the College Chapel |
1940 | The new school block was completed and requisitioned by the Admiralty |
1942 | St Paul's was badly damaged by bombs |
1946 | Prior Park Preparatory School was founded at Cricklade |
1949 | Formation of the College Contingent of the Combined Cadet Force |
1957-59 | The Science School was built with a grant from Industrial Fund for the Advancement of Science Teaching |
1965 | New VIth form block linking Science School and School Block was completed |
1965 | The Priory was purchased for eventual school use |
1966 | Restoration of Mansion steps and balustrade was completed |
1973 | An all-weather hockey pitch was completed |
1974 | The Br. Burke Memorial Pavilion was completed |
1981 | Christian brothers left the College and lay administration took over the administration |
1983 | Girls joined the College |
1991 | The second catastrophic fire took hold of the Mansion and caused massive destruction |
1993 1994 |
Julian Slade Theatre opens Victorian Ball Court restored All weather Astro pitch completed |
1995 | Mansion reopens after major rebuild completed |
2007 | Mackintosh Dance Studio opens |
2009 | The addition of Baines House (11-13yr olds) |
2014 | The Creative Design Centre opens in St Peter's |
2015 | Bury Sports Centre opens Restoration of the Mansion steps - lower flight |
2016 2017 |
Prior Park Schools, Gibraltar opens Prior Park Preparatory School is sold to Wishford Group |
2020 | 23 March LOCKDOWN and closure due to the Covid-19 Pandemic world crisis |