The way we were

Leweston School was founded by a religious institution in the late 19th century. In September the school celebrated its 60th anniversary at its present location

Leweston School, formerly St Antony's School, was founded in Sherborne in 1891 by the Sisters of Christian Instruction. The 1948 Education Act led to the sisters moving the senior pupils to Leweston Manor an extensive estate which dates back to the Middle Ages.

The Preparatory school continued in Sherborne until 1993 when the whole school was reunited on the Leweston campus and the younger pupils took up residence in the redesigned Coach House.

The manor house is set in 40 acres of Dorset parkland and was built towards the end of the 18th century for the Digby family of Sherborne Castle. The Trinity Chapel, which lies in the grounds of the school, is much older than the manor house and of great historical importance as one of the first churches to be built in England after the Reformation.

In 1897 Mr Digby sold the property to George Hamilton Fletcher who built an Italian garden or Belvedere which you can explore today. The Hamilton Fletchers also erected the wrought iron gates at the school's entrance. It was next sold to Eric Rose who made considerable structural alterations to the house and restored Trinity Chapel.

During the Second World War Leweston became a Naval Convalescent Home, which is commemorated by two anchors in the grounds. After the war, and due to the rising cost of taxation, Mr Rose sold the house to St Anthony's school.