The History of The Dower House

In the 1680s John Wolryche of Dudmaston Hall began building the New House (now called The Dower House). Work stopped when he died from Small Pox in 1685 aged 48.

The building was completed some years later by his grandson; Sir John Wolryche 4th Bt, although it is not known who lived in the house at completion.

The Wolryche-Whitmore family some years later in 1840 turned the house into a school for orphan children. The school was called the South East Shropshire District School. At the time it was thought that by removing children from the workhouse they would be freed from the bad example of their parents and associates as those who ended up in the workhouse were deemed to be unfit parents.

The institute at Quatt was an Industrial school and gave a sound healthy education as well as labouring skills to provide a more promising adult life. There were over 100 children in this school and the building itself was doubled in size to accommodate them. Detail from the back of the house was reused on the front to provide a more impressive facade.

The Industrial school was run by a series of headmasters, the first being Henry Garland with his wife Elizabeth acting as the matron.

The school closed in 1901 as it had become more appropriate to educate children within a family environment. The building became a private house again and a number of individuals made The Dower House their home. Part of the school building was demolished and a beautiful walled garden was landscaped, this area now forms a play area for our younger children and a wonderful outdoor theatre for school productions.

It was in 1982 that The Dower House was opened as a school again by Mr. & Mrs. Pickard as a private day school. The Pickards retired in 2003 and the school became a charity managed by trustees. In 2007 we celebrated our 25th Anniversary.

In 1978 the school was acquired by the National Trust as part of Dudmaston Estate and is leased from the trust to operate as a school. The history and unique ownership forms part of the schools charm and interest for the current pupils.