Lowther College Explained

Lowther College was a public school for girls in the United Kingdom in the late 19th and 20th centuries.

The school was originally formed in 1896 at Lytham St. Annes in Lancashire, by Mrs. Florence Morris (later Lindley).^[1] In 1920 the school moved to Bodelwyddan Castle, in North Wales, as tenants; the school purchased the property five years later, in 1925.^[2] Mrs Lindley continued as headmistress of the college until 1927, when the college was sold to Allied Schools.

The school is thought to have been one of the first public schools for girls to have its own swimming pool. It also had a golf course. The Lowther College Tableaux were well regarded within the community for their musical excellence.

Boys were admitted from 1977. The school closed in 1982 due to financial problems.^[3]

Notable former pupils

• Miriam Licette (1885–1969), operatic soprano
• Sally Oppenheim-Barnes, Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes (born 1930), Conservative politician^[4]
• Beata Brookes (born 1931), Conservative politician^[5]
• Jan Holden (1931–2005), actress
• Sylvia Law (1931–2004), town planner

Headmistresses

• 1896–1927: Florence Lindley
• 1960–1961: Elizabeth Lemarchand^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lowther College . Archives Network Wales . 2007-12-01 .
2. Tony Haskell, p.133
3. Web site: Lowther College . Bodelwyddan Castle . 2007-12-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071108180315/http://www.bodelwyddan-castle.co.uk/college.htm . 2007-11-08 . dead .
4. 'Oppenheim-Barnes, Baroness (born 26 July 1930)' in Who's Who 2012 (London, A. & C. Black)
5. 'Brookes, Beata Ann' in Who's Who 2012 (London, A. & C. Black)
6. Book: Writers Directory. 5 March 2016. Springer. 978-1-349-03650-9. 735–.