The British public
school system has, for centuries, been the envy of the civilized
world. Not only for its high standards of education, but also for its
unyielding propensity for producing Empire builders and leaders in
the fields of politics, science, economics, sport and the arts. Over
the course of centuries, public schools have accumulated a
bewildering array of quirky traditions. With the possible exception
of the Church, no institutions so fervently hold onto their rituals,
customs and costumes as the public schools, be it the Tudor uniforms
of Christ's Hospital and the straw hats of Harrow, or the Eton Wall
Game and Wincoll football. This, combined with often magnificent
buildings set in the most beautiful of British countryside, means
that they are remarkably visually interesting. In the late 1980s,
photographer Mark Draisey was given privileged access to these
usually closed and private worlds, to produce a stunning record of
life inside institutions that were, as a rule, out of bounds to the
majority of the population. This collection was taken at a time just
prior to major changes in the boarding house conditions and the
general modernisation of facilities at many of the schools, brought
about by a more competitive market, plus the introduction of girls
into these once male dominated institutions. This supremely evocative
collection is a unique insight into the life within twenty-five of
Britain's leading boy's public schools just before they changed
forever. Images of austere dormitories and bleak bathrooms, beagling
on the moors and Sunday Chapel, cadet training and early morning
rowing, will remind thousands of Spartan but more certain times when
tradition and eccentricity mingled with educational excellence to
produce generations of boys destined to succeed.
Mark Draisey was
born in 1962 and grew up in South West London attending schools in
both the private and state system. His fascination for British public
schools began whilst he was studying illustration and photography at
Brighton Polytechnic, and began this project in his final year as
part of his degree. He now works as a successful illustrator and
caricaturist for all aspects of the media from his home in Bath.
A Private View of Public Schools: Photographs by Mark Draisey
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Above, Eton: The
Oppidan Wall, or team, who play against College in the St. Andrew's
Day Wall Game. The Eton Wall Game has been played here since at least
1766 and is unique to the school as it can only be played alongside
the brick wall on College Field. Its rules are numerous and complex
and are really only ever understood by those who play it.
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Boys relaxing on a
summer afternoon in 'Half Housey' dress, Christ's Hospital
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Above, Eton: Rowers,
or wet bobs, in their traditional Stand Naval uniforms worn for the
procession of boats on the Fourth of June
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The Ampleforth
Beagles were run by Ampleforth school until 1994, but since the
Hunting Act of 2004, the pack is now managed by a local hunt and a
group of Old Amplefordians.
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Rugby School.
Rugby's 1st XI cricketers are unique in wearing duck-egg blue shirts
instead of the standard white ones. It used to be the case, that all
cricket teams wore different colours before the end of the 19th
century.
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Harrow. Calling the
register is known as 'Bill' and takes place in each house daily.
However, on Speech Day, it is a more ceremonial occasion where the
whole school files passed the Head Master and Head Boy, raising their
hats as their name is read out. For this day only, boys are allowed
to wear buttonholes and fancy waistcoats of their choosing with their
Sunday dress.
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Haileybury. The
rackets court, a forerunner to squash, is unique at Haileybury
because of its double viewing gallery
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Radley. Lunch in the
dining hall where boys still wear their gowns. A scene reminiscent of
that of Hogwarts from Harry Potter.
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Eton: The Eton Wall
Game has been played here since at least 1766 and is unique to the
school as it can only be played alongside the brick wall on College
Field. Its rules are numerous and complex and are really only ever
understood by those who play it.
|
 |
Radley. The 1st XI
cricketers and 1st VIII oarsmen sport discrete plain white blazers
with only an embroidered magenta badge linking them to their sport.
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1980s photographs go
behind the scenes at Britain's most elite boarding schools
A new film taking a
look at the very private world of British public schools is causing a
stir in certain circles. But while The Riot Club, starring Douglas
Booth and Sam Claflin, depicts a dark side to life as a privileged
student a charming photography book has also been released
documenting a more innocent time at some of the nation's finest
learning establishments.
In the late 1980s
photographer Mark Draisey was given access to document the British
public school system.
Gaining an inside
view of this usually closed and private world allowed him to produce
a stunning record of life inside institutions that were, as a rule,
out of bounds to the majority of the population.
The evocative
collection - bought together for upcoming book Thirty Years On! A
private view of public schools - is a unique insight into the life
within twenty-five of Britain's leading boy's public schools just
before they changed forever.
Mark's images were
taken at a time just prior to major changes in the boarding house
conditions and the general modernisation of facilities at many of the
schools, brought about by a more competitive market, plus the
introduction of girls into these once male dominated institutions.
Images of austere
dormitories and bleak bathrooms, beagling on the moors and Sunday
chapel, cadet training and early morning rowing, will remind
thousands of times when tradition and eccentricity mingled with
educational excellence to produce generations of boys destined to
succeed.
The British public
school system prides itself on the high standards of education, and
also for producing leaders in the fields of politics, science,
economics, sport and the arts.
Over the course of
centuries, public schools have accumulated a bewildering array of
quirky traditions. With the possible exception of the church, no
institutions so fervently hold onto their rituals, customs and
costumes as the public schools, be it the Tudor uniforms of Christ's
Hospital and the straw hats of Harrow, or the Eton Wall Game and
Wincoll football. This, combined with often magnificent buildings set
in the most beautiful of British countryside, means that they are
remarkably visually interesting.
When I first learnt of public schools at the age of about twelve in the mid 1980s, I just couldn’t believe a small number of boys of my age were going to have such an education. I was shocked and stunned and I hated and resented the whole idea of it - a rigid class system dividing the entire education system which you cannot change as you too enter it. I did not want to believe and I just could not believe such schools were going to continue for my generation too. Just as they had done so for countless generations of boys before us. I simply couldn’t understand why all the parents and all the adults wanted them to continue. It seemed so unfair and unjust. Couldn’t they see how unfair and unjust it was? Couldn’t they see how such schools were going to perpetuate inequality in education and society? Couldn’t they see that the class system was going to continue if you allow some boys to have such an advantage and privilege within education? It is difficult to explain, and as a teenager I never thought I would say this, but as you become older you slowly begin to see for yourself the important role public schools (like Eton, Harrow and Winchester) play within education. You begin to understand and also to acknowledge the invaluable and incalculable role such schools play in educating each generation. Especially during the progressive and troublesome decades like the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Above all else, just like with this book, you begin to see how special it would be if it continued. Not only for the next generation but also for the future generations of boys who will follow after them. Put simply the boys and increasingly the girls who attend such public schools are simply very lucky and also very fortunate so to do.
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