Dagmar House School, Hatfield, early 20th century

January, 2006

  
Elizabeth (steamingliz @t hotmail.com) of Hitchin writes: My father went to Dagmar House School, circa 1918, which was situated on the opposite corner to The Red Lion Hatfield - on the Old Great North Rd. He told me how he walked to school from Hertford where he lived. Sports at the school was played in the grounds of Hatfield House. I found his school cap in his effects. Please could you give me further info about the school.

The booklet Hatfield & Its People - Part 8 - Schools - records the following information

The picture is from Hatfield: A Pictorial History, and shows the Hatfield Collegiate Schools - Dagmar House (for Boys) and Alexandra House (for girls). There is a brief descriptive text which says there was a florishing cricket team, and an Old Dagmarians football team. There is also a picture of 33 girls, and three teachers, of Alexandra House taken about 1923 - and they were wearing distinctive hats.

The 1914 Kelly's Directory for Hertfordshire (online) shows John Raymond Sheehan-Dare residing at Dagmar House, North Road, Hatfield, with an entry for "Hatfield Collegiate Schools (J. R. Sheehan-Dare, principal), Dagmar House (boys) & Alexandra House (girls), North Road.

 

Peter Clarke (Peter.Clarke42 @t ntlworld.com) writes: I was doing some research on my local Church War memorial, St Peter Mancroft, Norwich, which includes the name William Henry Eldret. William is listed as a pupil at Dagmar House, Hatfield on the 1901 census. By the time of the 1911 census, William had moved to Norwich, and would enlist in the 8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. He was killed on the 1st July 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme.

The 1901 census shows 36 boys, aged 8-16, were boarders - and there would have been more day pupils. The was no sign of an adjacent girls school, and next door was The Wrestlers public house (listed as still there in Hertfordshire Inns & Public Houses).

The records for small private school rarely survive - but it may be worth contacting HALS to see if they have anything. However their events, such as cricket matches, were more likely to appear in the local papers of the time because many of the pupils will have been day scholars of the well-to-do tradesmen, etc., in the town.

Hatfield, Herts
Dagmar House School
Alexandra House School

Published by
S.M. Gibson and Co.
Gateshead-on-Tyne

Posted November 15th 1910

Sent to Mrs Hurlock
 The Shrubbery
Prospect Road
St Albans

Dear Mama,  Do not send my dancing shoes as there is no more dancing.
All the girls except 2 have got the measles.  Love Hodsolf(??)
     
 

Mike's father, J. N. Bune, went to Dagmar House School and was awarded a form prize in 1925. The book cover has the school crest and motto in gold. The date appears to be 1855

DEO ADJUVANTE NON TIMENDUM EST

 translates as

"With the help of God, there is nothing to be afraid of".

  
 

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See Hatfield Collegiate Schools - Dagmar & Alexandra Houses

If you can add to the information given above tell me.

October 2010   Note on Eldret added
November 2010   School Crest