History

Enjoying a peaceful setting in Chislehurst, South-East London, and a short walk from Elmstead Woods Station within easy reach of Central London, Babington House School has a long and fascinating past.

The school was founded in 1887 by Madame Rossel, a distinguished Belgian lady who was particularly interested in fostering the arts for children. Among her friends was Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, the great Victorian writer and politician, whose family name, Babington, was adopted as the name of the School.

Since 1959 the school has been administered as an educational charity by a board of Governors. The present building has long been associated with the Bilbrough family and was formerly known as Elmstead Grange.

Elmstead Grange, now Babington House School, c1900

Elmstead Grange was built in 1876 and Kenneth and Ethel Bilbrough moved here in 1904. The house stood on a 22 acre site and had a clear view of the City of London and Woolwich from the turret on the right of the photograph. Ethel makes reference to this view in her published War Diary, 1914-18.

Ethel Bilbrough in the grounds of Elmstead Grange, c1907

Ethel was married to Kenneth Bilbrough, youngest son of Arthur Bilbrough, the founder of Bilbrough Clippers shipping firm. Kenneth Leslie Bilbrough was always known to wear a fresh button hole up until the day he died. The flowers were always chosen from his own garden or greenhouses, such as the grounds of Elmstead Grange, pictured here.

Ethel Bilbrough and Nat the Dog in the grounds of Elmstead Grange, c1907

Nat was the family dog of the Bilbroughs at Elmstead Grange. Babington House School enjoys continuing this family tradition with Oscar and Ronnie, our wellbeing dogs, being popular friends of Babington House students and staff alike.

Entrance Hall of Elmstead Grange, c1909

The main entrance hall of Elmstead Grange held one of Kenneth Bilbrough’s collection of grandfather clocks, here seen to the left of the photograph. After the Bilbroughs moved out, Babington House School undertook extensive restoration of the property, including dismantling, repairing and rebuilding original features such as the stained glass windows pictured to the back of the photograph. King Charles III, then Prince Charles, sent a magnum of sherry to the school for their “Auction of Promises” to fund a portion of the restoration project.

Ethel Bilbrough and her sister, Mary c1909

Ethel Bilbrough enjoyed reading and writing and can be seen here reading to her sister, Mary, in the grounds of Elmstead Grange. Ethel kept a diary of the war years which provides an insight into her feelings, as a woman of wealth and position, about the war, the British government and topics such as food shortages, air raids and fundraising. She regularly wrote to the national papers about various issues of the day.

Kenneth and Ethel Bilbrough c1920

Kenneth Bilbrough, a keen motorist, wrote to his good friend Reverend Oscar Hardman, rector of St Nicholas parish church in Chislehurst, with the following advice for motoring:
…In giving signals by hand it is a good thing to stretch your hand right out as this gives the fellow behind a proper idea of what you are going to do. Some people make a habit of waggling two fingers outside the window, this is swank and very selfish. Happy motoring!”

Grange Lodge, originally the Gardener’s Cottage at Elmstead Grange, c1920

The gardeners at Elmstead Grange tended the extensive 22 acre site enjoyed by the Bilbrough family. Now a private residence, Grange Lodge originally housed the Head Gardener of the estate.

Ethel diary extract

Babington House School, 1959

Babington House School undertook extensive renovations of the building after the Bilbrough family moved out, including replacing the entire roof, repairing chimneys and re-timbering. During the renovations the original panelling on the main staircase was revealed as well as the original moulded ceiling in the entrance hall.

Babington House School

Combining state of the art facilities alongside original features of the Bilbrough’s family home, Babington House is now a thriving co-educational day school for students aged 3-18. We continue to build on the vision of our founder Madame Rossel in fostering a love of learning and academic endeavour for all in our nurturing school environment.

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