1946-1996: Buildings
From ‘posh’ country house to adventure playground in 50 years!
It has always tickled me that Kilquhanity House a rather sedate country house evolved into Kilquhanity House School a seven-acre adventure playground.
The story goes that the house as pictured above had a grass tennis court and on the edge of the court there had been installed a bell pull which was connected underground to the kitchen to summon a ‘lacky’ for refreshments. The courtyard had a coach house wherein the former owners kept their Rolls Royce.
The importance and significance of children being allowed to build huts and dens has been discussed in the article:
2011 Melanie Rose: In Pursuit of Solitude.
The Kilquhanity House estate grounds and buildings were developed throughout the life of the school often with the participation of the kids.
As the school grew, and finances allowed, existing buildings were converted and new building erected. As one might expect, external Trades were used only when necessary and if staff and kids could join in they would.
In the 1950s the Lodge was extended to add a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom to develop the building into accommodation for the older girls.
The agricultural steading buildings were converted into new bedrooms, bathrooms and classrooms including the Science Lab.
Maidenhead Mews was one proposal for changes drawn up by staff
The former Coach House was converted into the Wee House with bedroom accommodation upstairs and the new Pottery and what became the Kindergarten on the ground floor.
The Electrical supply was upgraded and connected into these area
In the 1960s Mike Kerr supervised the building of the Log Cabin with its under-floor entrance. Unfortunately, I do not have a photograph
In the 1970s Kilquhanity purhased ex-military buildings from Dundonald Camp in Ayrshire, Under Nicky Waltons supervision staff and kids complete the demolition and removal of the buildings which were transported to Kilquhanity and re-erected, with some modifications into the Site – workshops, sewing room, art room, bicycle repair room and a wood store below. John Aitkenhead exclaimed how great it was ‘to turn swords into ploughshares’.
John Aitkenhead wrote his own account of importance of building at Kilquhanity (date unknown)
The school purchase the now defunct railway signal box at Castle Douglas and under Mike Todd’s supervision staff and kids demolished it and it became the beautiful Dome – used as a Meeting room and Theatre, as well as other activities
Every Last Bit Salvaged; The Dome Signal Box Reborn
Later in the 1970’s Mike Todd designed his own accommodation Toddy’s Cabin which was erected in the Hard Tennis Court. The building was basically a single room on nine tree trunk pillar supports. The curved roof was supported by laminated beams formed by Mike with help from ki
Phil Hancock is the kid.
In later years the Stable roof was replaced.
