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Thursday, January 17, 2013

Archive reveals privileged life at top girls' school from 1930s to 1950s

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Messing around with spears and swords; riding a giraffe on a merry-go-round; and looking terribly refined while posing for class photographs - are images that provide a glimpse of life at a privileged girls' school from the 1930s to 50s.
Giving fascinating insight into a lost world, the fragile film has been presented to the National Library of Wales.

Pupils at Howell's Girls' School in Denbigh, north Wales, perform Shakespeare's As You Like It during the 1930s

Pupils at Howell's Girls' School in Denbigh, north Wales, perform Shakespeare's As You Like It during the 1930s

Above, the sixth form leavers' trip to Marine lake in Rhyl, north Wales, in the summer of 1941
Historic footage of life at the school from the 1930s to 50s has been presented to the National Library of Wales. Above, the sixth form leavers' trip to Marine lake in Rhyl, north Wales, in the summer of 1941

Sixth form leavers enjoy a merry-go-round during the Rhyl trip
Girls in Howell's school uniform of the 1930s and 40s
Sixth form leavers enjoy a merry-go-round during the Rhyl trip; right, girls in Howell's school uniform of the 1930s and 40s
The film reveals the wide range of activities the girls got up to inside the school - including weaving and basketry during the 1930s and 40s
The film reveals the wide range of activities the girls got up to inside the school - including weaving and basketry during the 1930s and 40s

The archive spans the years from 1933 to 1952 and takes in the Depression, World War II and the accession of Queen Elizabeth II.
Former pupil Isoline Greenhalgh started at the private school when she was 10 years old in 1943. She said: 'I am interested in history and I think it will seem very strange to people that the sexes used to be so separate. 'All girls with all-female teaching staff - it's interesting for people to see what it was like.
The archive spans the years from 1933 to 1952 and takes in the Depression, World War II and the accession of Queen Elizabeth II
The archive spans the years from 1933 to 1952 and takes in the Depression, World War II and the accession of Queen Elizabeth II

Pupils pose on the sixth form balcony above the science labs
Iola Baines, the film development officer for the National Library of Wales, said the footage formed an important historic resource which was becoming increasingly rare
Pupils pose on the sixth form balcony above the science labs and, in theatrical costume
A swimming lesson begins. Iola Baines, the film development officer for the National Library of Wales, said the footage formed an important historic resource which was becoming increasingly rare
A swimming lesson begins. Iola Baines, the film development officer for the National Library of Wales, said the footage formed an important historic resource which was becoming increasingly rare

The films were shot on 16mm film mainly by former teacher Miss Elizabeth Henley, who died three years ago aged 97, and fellow teacher Miss Nancy Hughes
The films were shot on 16mm film mainly by former teacher Miss Elizabeth Henley, who died three years ago aged 97, and fellow teacher Miss Nancy Hughes

'Games and sport took up half the afternoon. I think it's a feature of boarding schools that they have to fill up the day. 'But some of us would try to get out of games.'

Iola Baines, the film development officer for the National Library of Wales, said the footage formed an important historic resource which was becoming increasingly rare.
The school, whose Latin motto is 'Only God be honour and glory', was originally built in 1858 for 55 boarders and 50 day girls
The school, whose Latin motto is 'Only God be honour and glory', was originally built in 1858 for 55 boarders and 50 day girls
Howell's Girls School sits in 120 acres of stunning scenery in the tranquil Vale of Clwyd
Howell's sits in 120 acres of stunning scenery in the tranquil Vale of Clwyd

Pictured above, a Speech Day on July 14, 1951
Pictured above, a school speech day on July 14, 1951

The films were shot on 16mm film mainly by former teacher Miss Elizabeth Henley, who died three years ago aged 97, and fellow teacher Miss Nancy Hughes.
Much of it shows the girls taking part in sports activities such as group gymnastics and swimming, and diving in the outdoor pool.
They also reveal the wide range of activities the girls got up to inside the school - including weaving and basketry, theatre and ballet performances, and the school's speech day.
Former pupil Isoline Greenhalgh started at the private school when she was 10 in 1943. She said: 'I am interested in history and I think it will seem very strange to people that the sexes used to be so separate'
Former pupil Isoline Greenhalgh started at the private school when she was 10 in 1943. She said: 'I am interested in history and I think it will seem very strange to people that the sexes used to be so separate'

Pupils at the top school are seen here in the 1920s
Pupils at the top school are seen here with a teacher in the 1920s
The first team hockey in the uniform worn in the 1930s
The first team hockey in the uniform worn in the 1930s

Howell's Girls' School sits in 120 acres of stunning scenery in the tranquil Vale of Clwyd. The independent school today has fees of £7,000 a year for boarders and £4,000 for day girls.
The school, whose Latin motto is 'Only God be honour and glory', was originally built in 1858 for 55 boarders and 50 day girls.
Students wearing their Sunday best in the 1920s
Students wearing their Sunday best in the 1920s



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