Research Forum

1881 census "The College", Beach Road
published by on Sun, 12/01/2014 - 19:18

In the course of my research into my husband's family, I have found that in 1881 his great, great uncle was at "The College", Beach Road at the time of the 1881 census. He was 15 at the time, though there were some boys as young as 6 on the return
Does anyone know anything about this school?

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Wed, 15/01/2014 - 0:36

The College was sited in purpose-built premises on the sea front at Weston-super-Mare. This building was built in about 1859 by Jonathan ELWELL whose younger brother Joseph ELWELL first appears in Weston as a school master when two of his children are christened at St John's in 1838.

Joseph ELWELL's school was in Belvedere House which was also on Beach Road next to the site of the new school. Jonathan was teaching in Chester in 1841 but by 1851 he was in Beach Road, probably in Belvedere House, and Joseph ELWELL had left Weston.

The school flourished as did many other private schools in Weston at that time and Jonathan ELWELL became a prominent figure in the development of the town. He built the new school and as can be seen from the 1861 and 1871 censuses it attracted boys from all over the country and elsewhere.

In 1876 Jonathan ELWELL sold the school as a going concern to a Mr NUNN who also had a sucessful school in Bristol. Combining the two schools in Weston he advertised it as a High Class Commercial Boarding School for the Sons of Gentlemen. Although having spent a considerable amount upgrading the premises by the 1880s Mr NUNN realised its potential for development and he sold the building on Beach Road and build a new School in Walliscote Road in what is now Tallford House, 40 Walliscote Road. The old school building was enlarged and renovated and re-openned in 1888 as The Grand Atlantic Hotel.

The College remained as a School until the late 1950s or early 1960s

Submitted by on Wed, 15/01/2014 - 22:43

Thank you so much, Pat, for all this wonderful information - and a picture as well! I had dared to hope that someone would have an answer to my question, but your reply was beyond my expectations :)