Casterton Archives
When Carus Wilson founded the Clergy Daughters’ School at Cowan Bridge, he could have had little idea that the archives of his school would still be treasured and shared today. This wonderful collection spans 200 years and charts the progress both of this influential and at times radical school, and of the many girls and women who worked and were educated there.
The collection is broad ranging, including photographs of plays from the 2000s together with contemporary uniform samples, and items dating back to the earliest days of the School. A particular highlight is the admissions register that records the Brontë sisters starting at school. This records that on arrival at school Charlotte Brontë ‘reads tolerably, writes indifferently’. An early account book records a bill paid by Patrick Brontë, including bed, board, clothes, letters and transport of his girls.
For many years the collection was looked after by archivist Dorothy Vernon who took great care to preserve the items while ensuring that they were accessible to girls attending the school and to COGs visiting for special events. Katy de la Rivière continues Dorothy’s good work to ensure that this special collection is looked after. Headmaster of Casterton, Sedbergh Preparatory School, Will Newman and his staff are keen that the history of Casterton School is celebrated at every opportunity. Items from the collection and stories passed down by Casterton School alumnae feature in regular assemblies, classes, chapel sermons and evening talks to ensure that the young people being educated at Casterton today have a sense of importance and ethos of the school in the past. Items from the collection are displayed at Founder’s Day and other alumnae events on the school site and can also be viewed by request.
The collection continues to grow as alumnae and their families donate treasured items retrieved from the back of wardrobes or found in school trunks dragged down from the loft. Some people choose to write out their memories of school days to add colour to the formal photographs, magazines and school reports in the collection. It is a great privilege to continue to preserve and share this precious collection. If you would like to contact the archivist please do so on kdlr@sedberghschool.org.
