Docco's Diary | The Story of Athelney House

Many old scholars would have spent time in Athelney House in their years at St Peter’s College as it was used as a boarding house for 38 years from 1965 to 2002. They may be interested to have some history of Athelney House and the Hill Wing that is linked to it by a breezeway.

Athelney House was built in 1858 by Mr Peter Dowling Prankerd (1819–1902), land agent, commission agent and farmer. He was a close neighbour of the School. He was born at Taunton, Somerset, England, seven miles from the Isle of Athelney. Mr. Prankerd was a member of the Council of Governors, and in 1868 he endowed the Prankerd Scholarship for Modern Languages. The Scholarship was first awarded in 1869. It continues to be awarded in 2026.

Athelney is a village located between the villages of Burrowbridge and East Lyng in Somerset, England. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English æþeling meaning "prince" + -ey meaning "isle”. “Athelney – the Isle of Princes”. The village is best known for once being the fortress hiding place of King Alfred the Great, from where he went on to defeat the Great Heathen Army at the Battle of Edington in May 878.

Photo: Athelney House in the early years

The grand house was purchased in 1872 by well-known pastoralist, Mr Herbert Bristow Hughes. Mr Edgar Bristow Hughes purchased Athelney in 1917, and Athelney House remained in the Hughes family for 80 years until it was sold to St Peter's College in 1952.

It was the setting for much liberal hospitality. When Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria, visited St. Peter's College on his Australia tour in October 1867, he had lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Hughes at "Athelney". Prince Alfred College was later named after Prince Alfred when it opened in 1869.

Photo: Atheleny House Foyer in the early years

In the course of 1952, Mrs. Edgar Hughes, who since 1917 has been the School’s close neighbour and friend, decided to sell “Athelney,” and St Peter’s College was the buyer. In 1952 it was not known for what purpose the house would eventually be used by the School. The neighbourhood and friendliness of “Athelney” were of long standing.  Mrs. Hughes virtually belonged to the School Community; her work for and with the School Mission and the School Chapel indicate that she felt this too. With its five and a half acres of ground – garden, orchard, shrubberies – “Athelney” adjoins the rest of the School property on the North-West side of the Girdlestone Oval. Both house and grounds will be a valuable addition to the School”.

Photo: Commemorative Plaque - opening of the School Boarding House 

The School used Athelney for various purposes from 1952 until 1963. From 1954, it was used as a home for Scouts and most of the Scout meetings were held in Athelney. From 1956 it was also used as an Art Centre, and there were Art exhibitions at the Athelney Gallery. In 1958 MHH Pearse won The Athelney Prize (presented by Mrs. Edgar Hughes for the best work of the year in the field of Arts and Crafts). In 1960 the winner was RH Drennan. In 1961 it as DAS Burden. Athelney was also used for Woodwork.  From 1960-1963 it was used as a Woodwork and Art Centre with the special purpose of providing occupation for boarders on Sundays. In 1963 A “Blue and White” room was set aside at Athelney where the decorations were prefabricated before being moved to Memorial Hall. The room was also used to store decorations for future use. In 1959 Athelney was used for a House Dinner. Part of the building was also used as a residence for School staff.

1963 was the last year of Art at Athelney. In 1964 the Art quarters moved to the ground floor of the new Gordon Building.

Projected numbers of boarders in the School around 1963-1965 were increasing rapidly and the School had to find accommodation for over 200 boarders. In 1963 the boys were informed: “Next year there will be another new house – a boarding house – Athelney. It will have 34 members and they will live in the present Wyatt and Allen buildings before moving in 1965 to new quarters which are to be added to the old house of Athelney. Mr. C. L. Ketley became Senior House Tutor of Athelney for 1964. The plans for the extension of Athelney have been approved by the School Council”.

Photo: The new Wyatt and Allen Boarding House extension of 1963

The 1964 magazine recorded:

“ATHELNEY

This year saw the beginning of Athelney House – the school’s third Boarding House. It was confronted with many difficulties. The House consisted only of House Seniors and first and second years; thus there was not the strong representation in the Senior part, about which we could mould an effective force, and consequently it was left to the second years to be the leaders of the House – a task which they surprisingly succeeded in doing. Also the fact that we were forced to live in the old Wyatt and Allen stables meant that the senses of pride and responsibility in one’s own dwellings will probably not develop until next year when the House moves into its new buildings.

With this pride develops House Spirit. This on occasions reached great heights for such a young House, but it did not always remain at this level. Perhaps our greatest success in Inter-House Competition occurred in the Music Competition, in which we finished equal second – close behind School House. Results in Junior House sport augur well for the future, and the enthusiasm shown in most sports, particularly Cross Country and Tennis, could lead to further success next year.

Probably the greatest achievement as a House was to finish fourth in the Sir George Murray Shield in Trinity Term – a change from the bottom position usually occupied by a boarding House. Our thanks go to Mr. Ketley who has helped greatly in starting the House and putting it on its feet”.

Photo: Athelney House - Class of 1964

In 1965 we had 243 boarders. There had never been as many boarders at St Peter’s College.

Photo: Athelney House - Class of 1965

The 1965 magazine records: “The extension to the Athelney building was opened by Mrs. E. B. Hughes at 5.30 on Saturday, 6th February, 1965. At about 4.30, Members of the Council, the Headmaster and masters, together with their wives, arrived at the old building, which for 35 years was owned by the Hughes family and from whom the School bought it in 1952. The official opening was preceded by a cocktail party in the original “Smoking Room” or what is now called the Library. At 5.30, the guests gathered along the archway connecting the old with the new building. The Bishop, the Headmaster and Mr. Irwin, the architect, made speeches concerned with the history of the old building and the erection and future development of Athelney Boarding House. Mrs. Hughes then declared the extension of the building open, unveiled a plaque, and rang the ship’s bell she had given. An inspection of the dormitories, bathrooms and study-rooms followed, during which everyone was greatly impressed”.

 “Athelney is a different House from the new, unbalanced one of last year, particularly as far as its buildings and outside showings are concerned. The new dormitories, the beautiful Athelney House, and the spacious grounds have given the occupants an important sense of pride and responsibility. Again, it is true, there was the problem of unbalanced age groups with thirteen seniors and forty-three juniors, but, because we fielded Senior teams this year, exceptional spirit and will to win were most noticeable in every sport, for without these teams a House is lacking something very valuable. Among the innovations this year have been the selection of the colours, royal blue and gold, the phoenix as the emblem, and a House Magazine. Gardening, Library, Magazine and Radio Committees were formed, and almost everybody was connected with one of these. Our sporting successes augur well for the future, portraying an overall ability of the House in general, rather than a few brilliant sportsmen. Among the best performances were Senior Standards, first, Junior Athletics, who came fourth and set a new record in the Under 13 Relay. Junior Grade Football, first, Senior Cross Country, third, and Senior Cricket, fourth. Junior Cricket, Tennis and Swimming teams also performed well later in the year. House colours were awarded to; RMcL Harris, NHB Hughes, TE Brooks, PG Fry, JK Hewitson, BF Hunt, PB Portus and RJ Sawers, who, as House Seniors, set an excellent standard by their co-operation and example. Finally our thanks go to Mr. Wilkins for his great interest in everything concerned with the House, and to Mr. Gordon, Mrs. Tinning and Mr. Sexton for their service during the year”.

The Hill Wing was named after the Acting Headmaster of the 1930s and 1940s - Colonel John Hill. The Hill Wing contained dormitories, studies, bathrooms and changing rooms for boarders.

Photo: The new Hill Wing 1965

In 1965 some of the parents thought the Hill Wing provided accommodation that was too comfortable for their sons. They felt it was good training for their sons to be exposed to some tougher conditions!

“In 1966 Athelney had a successful year both in sport and other activities, including eating, whether in Da Costa, House barbecues, or general eating. In sport, we won only one cup and lost one, but we did well in senior and junior House cricket, junior House football, swimming and athletics, and Athelney is now accepted as a strong sporting house. On the more academic side, interest was shown (and groups formed) in debating, modelling, drama, music (the Wipe-outs, or George, Simon and John) and articles for the House Magazine. We continued our fine performances in the George Murray Shield when we finished ninth. Three boys, however, won Commonwealth Scholarships, which shows that there are a few brains in the House somewhere. It has taken two years for the House to learn to live and work together, and it now needs to devote more time to the development of other activities so that it will not be narrowly caught up in sport. Mr. Wilkins has instigated a new method of running a House and has made it work. One of his greatest interests has been the garden, where he has weeded, sowed, watered and hoed with abandon and made the garden a restful and rewarding place. Neither we, nor the members for the next decade may see the results of his planting escapades, but the next generation will thank him for it. Also he has donated carpets, pictures, chairs and many other articles to the House and without these it would not be so comfortable or pleasant. Mr. Wilkins, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, Mr. Sexton, and Mrs Tinning have won the respect of all the members by their untiring and unselfish interest, whether in sport, work, or leisure”.

Photo: Athelney House - Class of 1969

For many years this House provided an excellent home for around 65 boarders. The House often had two resident staff members – the Housemaster and Assistant Housemaster. They were often supported by three House Tutors (usually university students, also living on the school grounds). Old scholars may look upon their experience of boarding as a valuable formative experience in life. Some boys came from remote stations in the Northern Territory and had only had “School of the Air” for education before they came to board at Athelney. Many enjoyed the camaraderie and House spirit that a boarding house can provide.

There were some severe droughts in rural South Australia in the late 1960s and by 1972 boarding numbers had fallen considerably. Athelney was running well and the decision was taken to keep Athelney House and Wyatt and Allen House going while closing down School House in the Pentreath Building. School House boarders went to the other two Houses. For nearly fifteen years the upstairs of the Pentreath Building lay empty until three classrooms and a small Drama Centre were created there in 1987.

Athelney House had various names including Athelney, School/Athelney, School at Athelney until the decision was taken to rename it School House at the beginning of 1983. With a change of name came a change of the House sport uniform to black.

Image: School House - Class of 1989

It remained a boarding house until the end of 2002 when it was closed down for boarding. The House was running well but numbers had fallen. A new House “School and Allen House” was formed as the old Wyatt and Allen Building was expanded across the old grass tennis courts behind the Nitschke Pavilion to provide more modern accommodation for 90 boys.

Image: School House - Class of 1999

In the years 2003 to 2017, the Hill Wing was used for various purposes including temporary classrooms when building and renovation were being done at the Junior School. In 2018 it was converted into an amazing Music Centre.

The archivist has used Athelney House in recent years and the School developed the Athelney Heritage Centre. In 2017 as we celebrated 170 years of St Peter’s College, which was founded in 1847, there was an impressive anniversary exhibition in Athelney House.            

Researched and written by David Docwra
David Docwra retired from St Peter’s College in December 2015 after 37 years’ service and is fondly remembered by many as a dedicated teacher, a committed coach of squash, cricket and soccer, and most especially as a passionate Head of Hawkes House for 21 years. David remains connected to St Peter’s College and regularly provides historical articles for the St Peter’s Old Collegians’ newsletters. In 2023 David was made an Honorary Member of the St Peter’s Old Collegians’ Association.