Despite its name, New House was actually purpose built in 1909 and so recently enjoyed its centenary year. To this day it remains the most recent boys’ Boarding House built from scratch and having undergone a major refurbishment in the summer of 2008, it is once again looking better than ever.
33 rooms of varying sizes and shapes comprise the accommodation in which no boy shares with more than two others in any one room. The single bedsits are primarily for boys in their Upper Sixth, but many Lower Sixth, too, enjoy the luxury of their own room! Most of the rooms have their own wash basins, and there are baths and showers on all three floors of the House.
There are two common rooms, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor. The ‘Readers’, in particular, provides boys with the opportunity to relax in the evening. It was built in the 1950s to commemorate the old boys of the house who died in both World Wars. They offer television, DVD and Satellite TV, as well as a table tennis table, table football and comfortable sofas and boys regularly prepare snacks and hot drinks in the two kitchen areas off each common room.
Outside there is a yard area, where boys can kick or throw balls around to their heart’s content. This can be lit once it is dark. In addition, the House has a grass five-a-side football pitch, with two small goals, and a beautiful, extended garden area, where the boys can play garden cricket, or simply relax in the sun during the Summer Term.
The House prides itself on its friendly, relaxed atmosphere, in which boys mix easily and happily together, regardless of age and status. As a result they are able to thrive in many different areas and we would welcome the opportunity to show visitors around a house in which we are all very proud.