A Brief History of MGGS…
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls was founded in 1887 with funds provided by the Wardens of Rochester Bridge. The school opened in 1888 in a new building called Albion Place which was sited in Sittingbourne Road in Maidstone. The first headmistress was Miss Pope. She was so important to the running of the school that if she was absent, the school closed for the day! She hoped for a school of: “mixed girls of all ranks and classes…No matter what their position in society…provided they behave themselves, they may all enter.”
By 1900, the school had 100 pupils and was now housed in four different buildings. In 1912, Miss Kidd became Headmistress and, as Freda Cornell, a student from 1918 – 1925, tells us, pupils
“were absolutely terrified of her…but the best thing was to keep calm and in the end you found she was human and quite funny.”
One of the school’s rules advised that:
“Amusements or social engagements are not accepted as an excuse for neglected homework.”
However, by the late 1920s, the school was very overcrowded and plans were underway for a move to a new site……
“Across the town and Little Buckland a new modern spacious school building was arising.”
Moving into its new premises in 1938, the Headmistress Miss Bartels, felt she was
“Leading the children into a land flowing with milk and honey. At last a dream has come true and we have a beautiful school to work in: a place built for peace, happiness and sunshine and all that we can desire.”
With the outbreak of War in 1939, things changed for all at MGGS…
Windows were blocked up and netting placed across them, and blast and baffle walls were built.
Pupils were also evacuated from King’s Warren School Plumstead to MGGS. However, after Christmas 1939 as the ‘Phoney War’ continued, many did not return to Maidstone. Some MGGS girls were themselves briefly evacuated from MGGS to Wales but they returned within a fortnight!
Margaret Amos, a student from 1934 – 1942, recalls
“We always had our gas-masks with us. If the air-raid warning went, we used to have to go down in the shelters. We used to think it was rather fun. Of course it was an absolute nightmare for the poor staff.”
Miss Keen, the Art teacher during World War Two, sketched and painted many scenes from the time.
Three sets of air raid shelters were built to house the school community, with 180 pupils in each complex. Records suggest that during raids, the school spent up to 7 hours in the shelters which became known as the tunnels. However, school life continued. Lessons were taught and lunch served, all underground. The 1940 school magazine describes them as
“…not exactly cosy … (and) some people may have been heard to complain of water dripping down their necks (but) …we now feel prepared for any emergency.”