About College Hall

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About College Hall

Where would you find an academic lecture taking place in the same space as a black-tie dinner, a lively drama performance and a school assembly? The answer is somewhere central to the life of the King’s Foundation: College Hall. Whether the walls resound to the foot-tapping beat of the Parents’ Association Ball, the exquisite performances of pupil musicians or the deafening silence of an A level examination, it is a place redolent with history but also at the very heart of school life today.

Situated on College Green on the Senior School campus, College Hall was largely built during 1076-1099 on the instructions of Wulstan, Bishop of Worcester (d.1095) as the monks’ refectory, or dining room, and is the largest remaining monastic refectory in England after Westminster Hall.

Perhaps its most striking feature is the “Majestas” (“Christ in Majesty”) at the east end, built in 1140. Christ, seated on his throne with one hand raised in blessing and the other holding a book, is surrounded by the Gospel writers Matthew (depicted as a Winged Man), Mark (Winged Lion), Luke (Winged Calf) and John (Winged Eagle). The “Majestas” was defaced during the reign of King Edward VI (1547-1553); shortly afterwards the wall was rendered and the “Majestas” was plastered over. Its re-discovery was made in August 1872 when the stage was replaced: workmen removed the plaster using chisels, resulting the in the feathered appearance of the sculpture today.

College Hall became the home of The King’s School from 1561; for over 300 years it was King’s only schoolroom. This proved challenging on occasions, as described by Albert Webb (KSW 1862-1867):

As all the classes were held in this one room & there were never less than four & generally five strong at the same time, the noise frequently became excessive, & to restore peace, the Head[master] was furnished with a wooden mallet with which he struck the table rigorously. This was effective for the moment but the hubbub soon arose again.

The complete lack of artificial light in College Hall meant that the building couldn’t be used at all after dark. This was rectified by the installation of gas in the autumn of 1879. The clumsy iron chandeliers then put in, with their myriad jets of naked flame, remained the only form of lighting in College Hall until the installation of electricity in 1922.

The New Scheme of 1884, which completely reconstructed and practically re-founded The King’s School, secured the establishment of the School as a separate body from the Cathedral. The greatest immediate consequence of the new powers and increased financial resources was the long-needed restoration of College Hall, which began in the autumn of 1885. It was two years before the work of restoration

was complete and College Hall once more in use; the formal reopening took place on 3 October 1887.

The war memorial to the OV fallen of the First World War, erected in College Hall in 1921, was the work of Mr

Hope Bagenal, FRIBA, who at the same time supervised the stripping of the dark stain off the oak panelling. Mr Bagenal went on to design the matching memorial for the fallen OVs of the Second World War (on which his own youngest son features), unveiled in 1948.

During the 1960s King’s saw a significant increase in the number of boys learning the organ; Harry Bramma (KSW Music Master 1963-1976) and David Annett (HM 1959-1979), himself an amateur organist, began campaigning and fundraising for an organ to be installed in the gallery. The two-manual instrument, with pipework salvaged from Shrub Hill’s defunct Holy Trinity Church, and its magnificent oak case, which originally stood in a convent chapel in London, was installed by Nicholson & Co. and completed in June 1969; the inaugural recitation of King’s new organ was given on 26 September 1969 by Dr. Francis Jackson, Organist of York Minster.

Feeding Bodies and Minds

We are delighted that Thomas Franks, our new catering partner, joined The King’s Foundation at the start of the Summer Term.

Thomas Franks are now an integral part of King’s catering provision across the Foundation, covering our everyday dining needs, but also extending to hospitality, providing excellent and innovative food for our pupils and visitors, both in School and on our sports pitches. They are very well versed in catering for independent education, working with numerous schools including King’s Gloucester and Solihull School. They are family-owned and run, with over 30 years’ experience in creating delicious and seasonal food which is cooked from scratch using fresh, high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.

They are also ambitious to source ingredients from parents and guardians of King’s pupils who are in the food industry. They aim to deliver a catering service that goes beyond expectations, providing locally-sourced, fresh and nutritious food for all three schools in the Foundation.

Headmaster Mr Gareth Doodes, adds, “Thomas Franks shone through as the best company we met. They understood King’s, and they understood the standards we expect for our pupils and staff. This is a really exciting time for our community and we look forward to working with Frank Bothwell and his brilliant team.”

We are also excited that we’ll be introducing a Tuk-Tuk catering facility for match teas and parent hospitality on the sports pitches, in addition to introducing a wide range of events on our school campuses as we move away from the restrictions we’ve all been under.

Owner of Thomas Franks, Frank Bothwell commented, “I am delighted and excited to be a part of King’s Worcester’s future planning. The new food philosophy developed will be an exciting pupil-centred journey and one to keep an eye on!”