Heritage Open Day 2016 – an invite to visit Ballard School
Ballard School and Heritage Open Days
Ballard School is situated on land bought by the Ubsdell family in the early 1900s. They were an American family but with their roots in England and Hampshire, notably Winchester and Southampton.
Our main school building was the original L shaped ‘Arts and Crafts’ inspired house. This is where our main reception, chapel, Junior Library, Headmaster’s Study, school offices and some classrooms are today.
#TBT #ThrowbackThursday 1922 Auction of our main building by the Ubdsell family – the Billiard Room (chapel today) pic.twitter.com/qZJSrtDyIS
— Ballard School (@BallardSchool) April 14, 2016
Many of the original features of ‘Great Ballard House’ (the name now used for the Great Ballard School near Chichester) are still in situ and, for the most part, in their original condition and setting.
Heritage Open Days – some background
Heritage Open Days is England’s biggest festival of history and culture involving over 40,000 volunteers. Every year over four days in September, thousands of events across the country invite you in to explore local treasures of every age, style and function. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE!
One of our staff attended the national Heritage Open Day launch, held at RIBA in London
This year, for the first time, Ballard School is opening its main school building, formally ‘Great Ballard House’, to the public for heritage tours. Visitors will have a guided tour of the rooms and period features of the Arts and Crafts movement which include various fireplaces and original tile surrounds. Tours will be led by staff and volunteers at the school who have particular interest in the Great Ballard Estate, the Ubsdell family and local history. The dedicated Heritage Room includes plaques and photographs from a country estate to a modern, thriving school.
A snapshot of our interiors with original features – Ballard School
On Saturday 10th September we are running small guided tours (pre-booked only). These will run at 09.30am, 10.15am, 11.00am and 11.145am.
For pre-booked tours, please contact Alix Stockwell – alix.stockwell@ballardschool.co.uk
Other HOD events in our area
Heritage Open Days in our area – come and visit us on 10th September 2016
Cadland Gardens – taken from their website this brief summary talks about the Capability Brown gardens which are rarely open, but will be as part of Heritage Open Days.
Exquisitely sited by Capability Brown to take advantage of the breathtaking views across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight, Cadland’s gardens are his smallest surviving pleasure ground. It is a miniature landscape garden with a circular belt walk, broad vistas, intimate peeps out to sea, the delights of scent and foliage and the play of light and shade on the grass. Plants available prior to 1760, roses, myrtles and cistus, scent the air. 18th century gardens were designed to create a different sensation at each turn of the path and to enliven the spirit with the Beauty of Nature.
Cadland are part of the associated Calshot Castle, Fawley Church/Waterside Heritage, and Lepe Beach Heritage Open Days on the same day.
We tweet from @BallardSchool
Ballard School is an independent, private co-educational school in New Milton, Hampshire, providing an outstanding level of education for nursery to GCSE. With small class sizes and proven academic excellence, we strive to nurture the academic potential of all students. Learn more about our academic programmes, pastoral care, facilities and school ethos by visiting our website or by requesting a prospectus here.
