News and Social Media

Archives Roundup
2nd December 2025

Outreach

Displays

On Tuesday 23rd September, the Archives Department created displays for the Bellis Society, who were welcomed for an update on the College Estate. A curated selection of estate plans and photographs of building works illustrated the College's growth and expansion over time.

A display for the Guild Tea on Thursday 25th September highlighted treasures and curiosities from across the collections, including several old, empty bottles of Guinness, discovered during a staff accommodation building project!

LC3 Academic Scholars Tea with Miss Beale
The Archives Department welcomed LC3 Academic Scholars for an afternoon exploring archival collections, followed by a special afternoon tea. A place was set for Dorothea Beale using her own China tea set!

Tours
Heritage tours have been a highlight of the Archives Programme this term. In September, the team held a Heritage Open Day and the Murder Most Unladylike Tour. Tours for visiting German student groups and new staff inductions helped share the history of the school.

DofE Volunteers
Six UC4 students have joined the Archives as Silver Duke of Edinburgh volunteers. Over the coming academic year, they will help index and sort administrative records and letters within the collections.

Research

First pupils from Thailand
Following a request from a current parent, the Archives have been researching College’s earliest pupils from Thailand. Our findings have taken us back more than 120 years, to daughters of Thai diplomatic families, representing Siam in Europe.

In January 1902, Lek Suriya, aged 16, began her studies at College. She was the daughter of His Excellency Phya Suriyanewake, Siamese Minister. Her sisters, Noi Suriya, joined in September 1902, and Deng Suriya in January 1903.

Later, sisters Nit and Plang Visutr Kosa enrolled in September 1906 and boarded at Farnley Lodge. Their father was His Excellency Phya Visutr Kosa, Siamese Minister.

This photograph from the early 1900s is believed to depict one of these sisters.

New additions to the collections

Frederick Shields, The Vision of Britomart, c.1890
The stained glass windows above the grand staircase depict scenes from Dorothea Beale’s favourite literary work, The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.

Frederick Shields, an art teacher at the College, was originally commissioned to design the full series of windows. The archives have recently acquired his original design for the first window, which features a partially clothed cherub. Miss Beale strongly opposed the inclusion of the cherub, and Shields refused to continue.

Photograph Album, 1918 to 1923
This album is believed to have belonged to former pupil Barbara Malcolm Elrington, who attended College between 1918 and 1923. The photographs show how much of school life remains wonderfully familiar, with pupils playing sports, studying and spending time with friends.

Blog post on Ithell Colquhoun
In celebration of the largest exhibition of her work to date, Ithell Colquhoun: Between Two Worlds, which opened at Tate Britain in London this summer, our Senior Archive Assistant has shared a new blog post exploring the remarkable life of Guild member Ithell Colquhoun.

NEW SIXTH FORM CENTRE - OPENING AUTUMN 2026

Our new Sixth Form Centre will provide innovative learning spaces, that prepare students for university, work and life. Find out more here.

Upcoming Sixth Form Admissions Events
Join our group tour on 3rd December to find out more about joining CLC Sixth Form in 2026 or 2027.
Book via our Visits page