History of the Salesian School at Blaisdon Hall

This page contains a brief history of Blaidson Hall, that was the site of the Salesian School since 1935 until 1993.

The Salesian School at Blaisdon Hall opened in February 1935 as a joint venture of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Westminster Catholic Crusade of Rescue. For over thirty years, the Order had run a School of Agriculture and Trades, and the Crusade of Rescue placed many of the early students. In August 1962, and in response to government policy, the Order sold Stud Farm and changed the emphasis of the School to provide education to disadvantaged boys.

Father John Gilheney was the head teacher in the 1960s and for most of the 1970s, and oversaw some major changes at the School. Initially, the pupils were accommodated in the main house and teaching took place in the ‘old school’ that was built in the early 1940s. In January 1966, a new building situated beyond the main house opened, containing classrooms, offices and sleeping accommodation. A new gymnasium/concert hall was also built, alongside the playground. During the 1960s, the staff were exclusively male, until the arrival of a female matron, Pauline Allen, followed by the first female teacher in 1973, Barbara Jackson.

Looking after the pupils was demanding, and the Salesian School had a hard working team of domestic staff, who all lived locally. Joe Hurley, for instance, was cook for over thirty years. Three lay-teachers were appointed in September 1972, under wider plans to establish separate teaching and care staff. Five house units were established under Father John Kavanagh, and other new staff appointed. Each house had approximately 12 boys, a housefather, housemother, one or two deputies, a teacher on extraneous duties and community service volunteer.

A combination of government policies and falling student numbers meant that in September 1993, the trustees decided the close the school. The 19 remaining students left on 19th December 1993, while the Salesian community remained until the summer of 1994 before moving on to other Salesian centres.

Baldison Hall was sold in 1995 to another educational establishment, Hartpury College. Four years later, the Hall was again put back on the market and sold to Tony Haynes. A series of extensive restoration works took place on the main building and the 1960s school block was demolished, to be replaced with ornamental ponds.

In 2009, Blaisdon Hall was sold to Andrey Zhelamskiy, who undertook further refurbishments and developed the Hall into a venue for weddings and other functions. However, a large number of ex-pupils still return to Blaisdon for reunions.