History

In January 2011, Cranbrook and Glenarm Colleges integrated into a new, state of the art site of Mansfield Rd, a new single site adjacent to the existing Cranbrook College campus. The schools, who share the same founder, have re branded themselves under the new title of Cranbrook and are fully co-educational. 

On the 10^th March 2011 a meeting took place at Cranbrook between Mr  John Smith, a former student, Mayor of Redbridge and most recently Chairman of Cranbrook College Governors – an association with Cranbrook College from 1935 until 2006, and Roger Taylor, then Assistant  Head, former  PE teacher [January 1984 -].

 John brought in a compilation of documents he had put together. We will begin with the Principals and Headmasters of Cranbrook College and Cranbrook:

1896 – c.1919                                                 W.H. Carte, Founder.  

c. 1919 – late 1920’s / early 1930’s   H.C.Watson, FRGS,MRCP with

V.A.Ottaway, B.A.[Oxon], Joint Principal, part of this period.

Late 1920’s / early 1930’s – 1933      A.G.C. Crawford

1933-1937                                           J.B.Thornley, M.R.S.T., Inter B.A. [Lond], A.C.P. with

Vice-Principals

Joseph A. Thornley, B.Sc. Econ. [Hons. Lond], F.R.G.S.

Leslie W. Thornley, F.R.S.A.

J.B.Thornley died in office on 30/4/1937 and was succeeded as Principal and Headmaster by elder son, Joseph.            

1937-1972                                           Joseph A. Thornley, B.Sc. Econ. [Hons. Lond], F.R.G.S. with

Leslie W. Thornley, F.R.S.A., Joint Principal for two periods when part of the School was evacuated for 1 month in September 1939 to Stowmarket, Suffolk and for one year from June 1940 – June 1941 to Teignmouth, Devon.

The Thornley’s proprietorship of the school was relinquished in 1960 to form a charitable trust [to be known as ‘Cranbrook College Educational Trust Limited,’ a company limited by guarantee] and J.A.Thornley continued in office as a salaried Headmaster until retirement in 1972.

1972-1976                                           Peter A.B. Gowland, B.Sc, Dip.Th.

1976-2001                                           Gerald T. Reading, M.A.[Oxon], Cert.Ed., F.R.S.A.

2001-2006                                           Charles P. Lacey, M.A., B.A., PGCE., F.R.S.A.

2006-2007                                           Graham Horsewood [Interim Headteacher] , MA, Ad.Dip.EdMan.  BA Hons.

2007-2010                                           Andrew Moss, MEd.(Manchester), NPQH.

2010-                                                   Ivan Mulinder,            BA.(Wales), PGCE.     

N.B. Records prior to the Thornley era are minimal so precise dates of terms of office are approximate and in two instance, degrees and qualifications are unknown.

Our founder’s sister, Miss F.D.Carte, was co-founder with Miss Billham, of Glenarm College two years earlier than Cranbrook and is the oldest school in Ilford.

The husband of Mrs Hull, a Cranbrook prep teacher in 1935, still owns Hull’s Estate Agents on Cranbrook Road in Ilford.

According to Mr Joseph Thornley, Cranbrook had been in steady decline for a number of years before the Thornleys took over, with only 84 boys on roll.

It is believed that Cranbrook first occupied the present site [nearest Cranbrook Road] on April 1^st 1923.

‘ During the war [second World War 1939-1945] if the air raid sirens went off those who  went home for dinner did not have to return to school in the afternoon, which pleased all the students.’ [John Smith]

The school hall [now the dining room], which was built just before the war, had a reinforced ceiling to help protect the students and staff from the bombings. Of course nothing would have survived a direct hit. When the air raid siren went off all the boys and staff had to go and sit in the hall, where teaching continued.

During the 1940’s there were 240 boys in various locations along Mansfield Road and in the Methodist Church.

The following has been added by Mr Roger Taylor who joined the staff in January 1984.

Also during the 1980’s and 90’s there were 230 boys on the present site – before the Thornley Building [1991] and present Art Room [1993, previously the ‘computer room’] which were built in order to accommodate the numbers. [NB. Computers were introduced into Cranbrook around 1980, and the school first went on the internet in 1998]

How times have changed: the now art room was described in 1993/4 to be ‘an airy new computer room converted from the loft space. Plenty of room for our computers’.

Mr Lesley Thornley died on 15 February 1992 - ending nearly 60 years of the Thornley’s connection with the school – just 4 months after seeing the opening of the Thornley Building, his great dream in the ongoing expansion of the school.

Two benches in the playground have commemoration plaques of former teachers who died in service: Mrs Linda Francis a prep teacher from 1978-1990 who died of Leukaemia [6 Nov 1990], and Mrs Adelaide Naughton who taught music from 1972-1996 and died of a lengthy illness.

Mention must be made of one of the great figures in Cranbrook’s history, Mr George Douille; French teacher and Second Master 1959 – 2002. Died c. 2007.

Others include Roger Bardell, former student c.1940’s and Chairman of the Governors, who died in 1999.

John Ninian, English teacher and Deputy Head, 1973- 2002.

Mrs Maggie McGovern; school cleaner, decorator and gardener. c1980 – 2002. Still working at the school into her late eighties and died c.2005 aged 92.

Mr Rolly Neville, teacher of physics and ICT c.1974-2001.

Brian Hill; old boy and governor, former Mayor of Redbridge.

Mrs Pauline Holland; former teacher and Head of Prep Dept. 1987-2003

Mr Paul Timbrell; Head of Primary School, 1986-2002.

Revd. J.B.Barnes; former student, teacher and School Governor. c.1940- 2002.

Glenarm College was founded in 1893 and is the oldest surviving school in Ilford. The original premises were across the road at The Croft, now No.37 Coventry Road, and our first headmistress was Mrs L. C. Wells. The College moved to its present site in 1901.  

Ilford grew rapidly in the early 20th century and to meet the needs of large numbers of parents who were moving into the town's leafy suburbs, Glenarm College expanded to occupy two houses. Firm foundations of academic excellence were laid and the College employed specialist staff to enhance the curriculum with modern languages, art, drama, dance and music. 

Ilford suffered heavy bombing during World War Two, yet Glenarm College continued to educate its children, with lessons often given in the cellars.

“The school has changed quite a lot since the intensive air raids have begun. For example, if the raids are very severe in the evening, we do not have to go to school until ten o’clock the next morning, and because of the early blackout we have to leave the school at half past three in the afternoon. In order to get in as much school work as possible, we have only one hour’s interval for dinner. For all the war-time alterations we still have plenty of fun and enjoyment as well as work at school.”
Moira Jones in the Glenarm College School Magazine, December 1940

Over the years we have striven to maintain our reputation for the traditional values of excellence, smartness of uniform, courtesy, good manners, integrity and confidence. These qualities can be seen in our pupils today, blended with modern and innovative ideas.

Founded in 1896, Cranbrook has always combined high academic performance with traditional values.

Originally a boys-only school, Cranbrook has merged with Glenarm College to offer classes for students aged three to 16 with an inclusive approach to a rounded education. Acquisition by Cognita School Ltd in April 2007 has prepared the College for this next stage in its history.  

Cranbrook College Trophies

Origins of Cups / Trophies / Awards presented annually at the former Cranbrook College Prize Giving ceremony, in the order they appear on the programme.  Thanks are acknowledged to John Smith and Roger Taylor.

 Mr Taylor found a very interesting article from a dated publication. Please click on the link below to view this document.