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Elmhurst has its origins in two Victorian 'roots' that merged into one.
In 1869 Mr and Mrs Allen Carr arrived in Croydon from North Devon and opened a 'School for Little Boys' briefly in St James' Road, then, from about 1870, in Wellesley Road. Allen Carr died in 1875 but his widow, Elizabeth, continued the school, now advertised as 'An Establishment for Indian Children' - i.e. those with parents on Military or Civil Service in that great sub-continent. In 1885 Mrs Carr bought an empty property called 'Elmhurst' in St Peter's Road, South Croydon - and moved her school to there.
Strangely, in the same year and in the same road, Miss Clarissa Prince, who had earlier established a boarding school in Detling, Kent, now opened one at her father's house, 'The Chalet'. She was assisted by her sisters - principally by Miss Florence Prince. As their school numbers grew they employed an assistant master - George Hardie Scott from Aberdeenshire, in about 1887. Scott became indispensable to the Misses Prince, was appointed Headmaster and married Florence in 1893. The next year, 1894, the Scotts and Clarissa Prince bought 'Elmhurst' from Mrs Carr and moved the bulk of the school there. From that time their establishment was advertised as 'Elmhurst School - for the Sons of Gentlemen'. In 1909 the house next door, belonging to Mrs Leisk, was purchased and the premises doubled in size.
Clarissa Prince died in 1935 and the Scotts were ready to retire. The very next year, they sold off the Elmhurst site for redevelopment into flats ('Elmhurst Court' as it is today). The school's name and goodwill were transferred for a fee to Mr & Mrs G.P. Peachell.
Gerald Peachell took over at St Peter's Road for the Summer Term 1936 before necessarily moving, for September 1936, the remaining boys and two masters to an available property, No 2 South Park Hill Road (our current No 46). That house had most recently been a 'Hostel for Unmarried Mothers' before becoming available for purchase.
In the first year of the War, some of the boys were evacuated to Mrs Marian Peachell's family property in High Wycombe, Bucks. Those not wishing to leave Croydon stayed on at South Park Hill Road under the guidance of Mr Hardie Scott, who came out of retirement to assist. Gerald Peachell travelled between the two sites. The High Wycombe contingent returned to South Croydon in 1943. In that same year the house next door (now renumbered as our current No 48) was added to the school.
Mrs Scott died in 1945 and Mr Scott retired again for the last time, as he died the following year.
Gerald Peachell, suffering increased ill-health, retired in 1951 and died shortly afterwards. He had sold the school to Mr A.W.L. Squire. Leslie Squire had joined Elmhurst under Mr Scott in 1935, had met his subsequent wife when she was employed to assist at High Wycombe, and had returned to teach at the school he was now to purchase, after returning from the War.
The Squires remained Elmhurst School Proprietors until 1980, the year that Mrs Squire sadly died and Mr Squire deservedly retired.
In 1980 Elmhurst passed into the hands of Mr R E Anderson. Mr Anderson had already forged a distingushed career in the state sector, being the youngest appointed Headmaster in the Croydon area.
This new period in Elmhurst's history signalled enormous change under Mr Anderson's guidance, full central heating, double glazing, the purchase and extension of 'Birdhurst' (our current No 44) which allowed the expansion to 2 form entry from Reception to Year 6 and the introduction of computers to the school only scratch the surface of the advances made during this time.
A major development in Elmhurt's recent history came with the appointment of Mr B. Dighton as Deputy Headmaster in 1983. Mr Dighton was to make a significant impact on the school and soon became Headmaster whilst Mr Anderson took on the role of Principal. Under this joint leadership Elmhurst thrived and had enormous success not only academically, but in sport, music and drama. This set many of the standards by which we measure ourselves today.
Mr Anderson took great care to ensure Elmhurst's success would continue. He took semi-retirement in 2003 appointing the school's first Bursar and when Mr & Mrs Dighton retired in 2006 he appointed Mr Matthew Apsley as Headmaster.
Mr & Mrs Anderson finally took full retirement in 2008 and sold the school to the present Proprietor Mr Henry Wickham.
Mr & Mrs Dighton very sadly died under tragic circumstances in 2009 and they are sadly missed by all who knew them.
Mr Wickham has already had a tremendous impact on Elmhurst, he will in September 2010 become Headmaster and Principal, following Mr Apsley's recent resignation, thus keeping alive the Proprietor / Head tradition that has served Elmhurst so well throughout its history.
