Riddlesworth Hall is a country house, and was formerly used as a boarding school. It is located in Riddlesworth, Norfolk, England.

Riddlesworth Hall
Map
Alternative namesRiddlesworth Hall School
General information
TypeManor
Town or cityRiddlesworth
CountryEngland
Completed1792
ClientSilvanus Bevan III
Design and construction
Architect(s)Thomas Leverton
References
www.riddlesworthhall.com

History

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It was acquired by Silvanus Bevan III (1743–1830) in 1792.[1][2]

It later became the seat of the Compton-Thornhill baronets, including Sir Thomas Thornhill, 1st Baronet (1837–1900) and Sir Anthony John Compton-Thornhill, 2nd Baronet (1868–1949). The second baronet had no heirs and the hall was converted for use as a school.[1][3]

Architecture

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It was designed by architect Thomas Leverton (1743–1824) as a Georgian style three-storey manor house in 1792.[1][3] It is surrounded by 12 hectares of parkland.[3]

It was listed by English Heritage as a Grade II building on 21 July 1951.[1]

Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School

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Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School
Address
 
Hall Lane


,
IP22 2TA

England
Information
TypePreparatory school
Day & Boarding
Religious affiliation(s)Church of England
Established1946
Closed2023
Department for Education URN121221 Tables
OfstedReports
GenderCoeducational
Age2 to 13
Houses4
Websitehttp://www.riddlesworthhall.com/

In 1946, Riddlesworth Hall School was established as a predominantly girls' school but later catered to both boys and girls aged 2 to 13.[4] In October 2015 it was announced that Riddlesworth had joined the Confucius International Education Group, which runs several international schools in China, Spain & USA. Riddlesworth was rebranded Confucius International School-Riddlesworth Hall (CISRH) as a result. The school ithen underwent a refurbishment and development programme.[5]

Full and part-time boarding was available for children from age 7. Enrollment was intentionally kept small..[6]

Pupils were allocated to four houses, which were named after prominent British women. Points were awarded for "achievement, effort, behavior and generosity of spirit".[7]

House Colour Namesake
Aylward   Gladys Aylward, missionary
Cavell   Edith Cavell, nurse
Fry   Elizabeth Fry, reformer
Nightingale   Florence Nightingale, nurse

Notable former pupils include Diana, Princess of Wales[3][8]

The school was formally closed in April 2023.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d British Listed Buildings
  2. ^ The Regency Town House: The Bevans
  3. ^ a b c d Select English Archived September 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Department of Education
  5. ^ Ward, Zach (1 October 2015). ""Change in direction" for Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School under new Chinese ownership". Diss Express.
  6. ^ Boarding
  7. ^ Houses
  8. ^ "The House of Windsor from 1952 — Diana, Princess of Wales: Childhood and teenage years". royal.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010.
  9. ^ "Princess Diana's former school Riddlesworth Hall to close - BBC News". Bbc.co.uk. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
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52°23′39″N 0°53′16″E / 52.3943°N 0.8877°E / 52.3943; 0.8877