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64-529: Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington , gave the house and its most important contents to the nation in 1947, but the Wellington Museum Act that year established the family's right to occupy just over half the house "so long as there is a Duke of Wellington". The Wellington Collection, along with the house, is managed by English Heritage and is open to the public. The notable collection of over 200 paintings on display includes 83 paintings from

128-663: A correspondence address. They are: Godolphin House, Jourdelay's (both built as such c. 1720), Hawtrey House, Durnford House (the first two built as such by the Provost and Fellows, 1845, when the school was increasing in numbers and needed more centralised control), The Hopgarden, South Lawn, Waynflete, Evans's, Keate House, Warre House, Villiers House, Common Lane House, Penn House, Walpole House, Cotton Hall, Wotton House, Holland House, Mustians, Angelo's, Manor House, Farrer House, Baldwin's Bec, The Timbralls, and Westbury. In addition to

192-501: A means of providing residence for the Oppidans in a more congenial manner, and during the 18th and 19th centuries the housemasters started to rely more for administrative purposes on a senior female member of staff, known as a "dame", who became responsible for the physical welfare of the boys. (Some houses had previously been run by dames without a housemaster.) Each house typically contains about 50 boys. Although classes are organised on

256-412: A non-financial award that recognises their academic capabilities. This is known as an Oppidan Scholarship . The title of Oppidan Scholar is awarded for consistently performing with distinction in school and external examinations ("Trials"): to earn the title, a boy must obtain either three distinctions in a row or four throughout his school career. Within the school, an Oppidan Scholar is entitled to use

320-428: A number of factors, including: the dissolution of the house lists, which allowed Old Etonians to register their sons at birth, in 1990; harder entrance examinations as the emphasis on academic attainment increased; a sharp rise in school fees increasingly beyond the means of many UK families; and increased applications from international, often very wealthy, families. There are three academic terms (known as halves) in

384-613: A quick look, Wellington and his staff thought there was nothing very important or valuable in it, but sent the imperial by sea to his brother William, Lord Maryborough (as he then was) in London for a proper check. His brother called in William Seguier , later the first keeper of the National Gallery , who recognised the quality of the paintings and compiled a list of 165 of the most important. Wellington then informed

448-473: A range of bursaries and scholarships. A recent Head Master, Tony Little , said that Eton was developing plans to allow any boy to attend the school whatever his parents' income and, in 2011, said that around 250 boys received "significant" financial help from the school. In early 2014, this figure had risen to 263 pupils receiving the equivalent of around 60% of school fee assistance, whilst a further 63 received their education free of charge. Little said that, in

512-546: A range to close the west side of School Yard between Lower School and Chapel". This was remodelled later and completed in 1694 by Matthew Bankes, Master Carpenter of the Royal Works. The last important addition to the central college buildings was the College Library, in the south range of the cloister, 1725–29, by Thomas Rowland. It has a very important collection of books and manuscripts. The Duke of Wellington

576-471: A reference to "the manly character induced by games and sport" among English youth generally, not a comment about Eton specifically. In 1889, Sir William Fraser conflated this uncorroborated remark with the one attributed to him by Count Charles de Montalembert's C'est ici qu'a été gagnée la bataille de Waterloo ("It is here that the Battle of Waterloo was won"). The architect John Shaw Jr (1803–1870) became

640-446: A school basis, most boys spend a large proportion of their time in their house. Not all boys who pass the college election examination choose to become King's Scholars, which involves living in "College" with its own ancient traditions, wearing a gown, and therefore a degree of separation from the other boys. If they choose instead to belong to one of the 24 Oppidan houses, they are simply regarded as Oppidans. However, they may still earn

704-541: A surveyor to Eton. He designed New Buildings (1844–46), Provost Francis Hodgson 's addition to provide better accommodation for collegers, who until then had mostly lived in Long Chamber, a long first-floor room where conditions were inhumane. Following complaints about the finances, buildings and management of Eton, the Clarendon Commission was set up in 1861 as a royal commission to investigate

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768-648: Is a 13–18 public fee-charging and boarding secondary school for boys in Eton, Berkshire , England. It is noted for having educated prime ministers , world leaders, Nobel laureates , Academy Award and BAFTA award-winning actors, and generations of the aristocracy , having been referred to as "the nurse of England's statesmen". The school is the largest boarding school in England ahead of Millfield and Oundle . Eton charges up to £52,749 per year (£17,583 per term, with three terms per academic year, for 2023/24). Eton

832-630: Is a member of the G30 Schools Group. Eton today is a larger school than it has been for much of its history. In 1678, there were 207 boys. In the late 18th century, there were about 300, while today, the total has risen to over 1,300. The school is included in The Schools Index as one of the 150 best private schools in the world and among top 30 senior schools in the UK. About 20% of pupils at Eton receive financial support, through

896-632: Is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the school is a member of the Eton Group of independent schools in the United Kingdom. The school appointed its first female Lower Master (deputy head), Susan Wijeratna , in 2017. She was succeeded by Paul Williams in 2023 as she took on the role of headmistress at Latymer Upper School. Eton has a long list of distinguished former pupils. In 2019, Boris Johnson became

960-472: Is a rumour that he also had carts of earth from Winchester transported to Eton. When Henry VI founded the school, he granted it a large number of endowments, including much valuable land. The group of feoffees appointed by the king to receive forfeited lands of the Alien Priories for the endowment of Eton were as follows: It was intended to have formidable buildings; Henry intended the nave of

1024-546: Is headed by a Provost , a vice-provost and a board of governors (known as Fellows) who appoint the Head Master. As of 2022 the school governors include: Statute VII of the College provides that the board shall be populated as follows (in addition to the Provost and Vice-Provost): The current Provost, William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill , has made public that he will be stepping down as Provost after

1088-506: Is no record of any male lover. After his wife's death in 1956, Wellesley reportedly wished to marry his widowed sister-in-law, Lady Serena James, but she did not wish to leave her marital home. Wellesley died early in 1972. His probate was sworn in the year of his death at £529,260 (equivalent to about £8,800,000 in 2023). He was succeeded in his titles and estates by his only son, Valerian . Eton College Eton College ( / ˈ iː t ən / EE -tən )

1152-402: Is often incorrectly quoted as saying that "The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing-fields of Eton." Wellington was at Eton from 1781 to 1784 and was to send his sons there. According to Nevill (citing the historian Sir Edward Creasy ), what Wellington said, while passing an Eton cricket match many decades later, was, "There grows the stuff that won Waterloo", a remark Nevill construes as

1216-439: Is one of four public schools , along with Harrow (1572), Sherborne (705) and Radley (1847), to have retained the boys-only , boarding -only tradition, which means that its boys live at the school seven days a week during term time. The remainder of them, including Charterhouse in 1971, Westminster in 1973, Rugby in 1976, Shrewsbury in 2015, and Winchester in 2022, have since become co-educational . Eton College

1280-470: The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography ). before becoming the lover and long-time companion of Hilda Matheson, a prominent BBC producer. Interestingly, Wellesley had been engaged to Sackville-West's former lover Violet Trefusis before marrying Dorothy. Wellesley himself was rumoured to be bisexual or homosexual, but this belief stems largely from certain effeminate mannerisms, and there

1344-837: The College Chapel to be the longest in Europe, and several religious relics , supposedly including a part of the True Cross and the Crown of Thorns . He persuaded the then Pope , Eugene IV , to grant him a privilege unparalleled anywhere in England: the right to grant indulgences to penitents on the Feast of the Assumption . The college also came into possession of one of England's Apocalypse manuscripts . However, when Henry

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1408-733: The Faringdon Folly tower for Lord Berners and built Portland House in Weymouth in 1935. He was the author of the following books : In 1947 the Duke gave Apsley House and its important contents ( Wellington Collection ) to the nation with Wellington Museum Act (but retained the right to occupy a large portion for him and his family) On 30 April 1914, Wellesley married Dorothy Violet Ashton (30 July 1889 – 11 July 1956). The Ashtons were an affluent cotton mill owning family, and Dorothy's father, Robert Ashton of Croughton, Cheshire

1472-474: The post-nominal letters OS . Each Oppidan house is usually referred to by the initials (forenames and surname) of its current housemaster, a senior teacher ("beak"), or more formally by his surname alone, not by the name of the building in which it is situated. Houses occasionally swap buildings according to the seniority of the housemaster and the physical desirability of the building. The names of buildings occupied by houses are used for few purposes other than

1536-507: The 2024 Summer Half (summer term). The school contains 25 boys' houses , each headed by a housemaster , selected from the more senior members of the teaching staff, which numbers some 155. Almost all of the school's pupils go on to universities, about a third of them to the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge . One boarding house, College , is reserved for 70 King's Scholars, who attend Eton on scholarships provided by

1600-606: The 20th British prime minister to have attended the school, and the fifth since the end of the Second World War. Previous Conservative leader David Cameron was the 19th British prime minister to have attended the school, and recommended that Eton set up a school in the state sector to help drive up standards. Eton has been described as the most famous public school in the world, and has been referred to as "the chief nurse of England's statesmen". Eton has educated generations of British and foreign aristocracy, and for

1664-568: The House: Napoleon's sword had been given to Wellington by Blücher . Made by Napoleon's goldsmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais , it is today on display at Apsley House along with its three scabbards. The Duke's uniform and other memorabilia may be seen in the basement. Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington , KG , DL , FRIBA (21 August 1885 – 4 January 1972), styled Lord Gerald Wellesley between 1900 and 1943,

1728-745: The Mission itself, and the 59 Club for motorcyclists. The large and ornate School Hall and School Library (by L. K. Hall) were erected in 1906–08 across the road from Upper School as the school's memorial to the Etonians who had died in the Boer War . Many tablets in the cloisters and chapel commemorate the large number of dead Etonians of the First World War . A bomb destroyed part of Upper School in World War II and blew out many windows in

1792-615: The Peacemaker (1802–10) is holding a gilded Nike in the palm of his right hand, and stands 3.45 metres (11.3 ft) to the raised left hand holding a staff. It was set up for a time in the Louvre and was bought by the British government for Wellington in 1816 and is placed at the bottom of a stairwell (in some people's opinion rather dismissively). The 1st Duke received many gifts from European continental rulers that are displayed in

1856-628: The Public School Boys Empire Tour. The first tour travelled to Australia; the last went to Canada. The purpose of the tours was to encourage Empire settlement, with the boys possibly becoming district officers in India or imperial governors of the Dominions. In 1959, the college constructed a nuclear bunker to house the college's Provost and fellows. The facility is now used for storage. In 1969, Dillibe Onyeama became

1920-571: The Scholars were educated and boarded at the foundation's expense. King's Scholars are entitled to use the letters 'KS' after their name and they can be identified by a black gown worn over the top of their tailcoats , giving them the nickname 'tugs' (Latin: togati , wearers of gowns); and occasionally by a surplice in Chapel. The house is looked after by the Master in College . Having succeeded in

1984-600: The Spanish royal collection. At the Battle of Vitoria in northern Spain in 1813, the British army captured a carriage full of paintings from the Spanish royal collection. Joseph Bonaparte , whose brother Napoleon had made him king of Spain, had already lost Madrid, escaping with over 200 paintings in the carriage. Most had been removed from their frames and were rolled up in a large "imperial" or travelling-chest, along with state papers, love letters, and other documents. After

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2048-403: The chapel and the brick north range of the present School Yard also date from the 1480s; the lower storeys of the cloister, including College Hall, were built between 1441 and 1460. As the school suffered reduced income while still under construction, the completion and further development of the school have since depended to some extent on wealthy benefactors. Building resumed when Roger Lupton

2112-484: The chapel, originally intended to be slightly over twice as long, with 18, or possibly 17, bays (there are eight today) was stopped when Henry VI was deposed. Only the Quire of the intended building was completed. Eton's first Head Master, William Waynflete , founder of Magdalen College, Oxford and previously headmaster of Winchester College , built the ante-chapel that completed the chapel. The important wall paintings in

2176-486: The chapel. The college commissioned replacements by Evie Hone (1949–52) and by John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens (1959 onward). Among Head Masters of the late 19th and 20th centuries were Cyril Alington , Robert Birley and Anthony Chenevix-Trench . M. R. James was a Provost. Between the years 1926 and 1939, Eton pupils were included as part of a group of around 20 or 30 selected public school boys who travelled yearly to various British Empire countries as part of

2240-455: The collar stud, but some senior boys are entitled to wear a white bow tie and winged collar ("Stick-Ups"). These include boys part of select prefect bodies, those who represent their house as a type of House Captain (general, sports or arts) and those who are "keepers" of areas of the school. There are some variations in the school dress worn by boys in authority; see School Prefects and King's Scholars sections. The long-standing belief that

2304-486: The court of the restored Bourbon King Ferdinand VII of Spain of the incident, to make arrangements for their return, but the King said Wellington should keep them as a gift. The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck was also in the carriage, but (being conveniently small) appears to have been looted by the soldiers, and next appeared in London in 1816 in the possession of a Scottish colonel who had been at Vitoria. Not all

2368-564: The crowded district of Hackney Wick in east London was started at the beginning of 1880, and it lasted until 1971 when it was decided that a more local project (at Dorney ) would be more realistic. However over the years much money was raised for the Eton Mission, a fine church by G. F. Bodley was erected; many Etonians visited and stimulated among other things the Eton Manor Boys' Club , a notable rowing club which has survived

2432-455: The examination, they include many of the most academically gifted boys in the school. As the school grew, more pupils were allowed to attend provided that they paid their own fees and lived in boarding-houses within the town of Eton, outside the college's original buildings. These pupils became known as Oppidans, from the Latin word oppidum , meaning "town". The houses developed over time as

2496-405: The exception that they are obliged to wear a white neckcloth. Lord Clarendon: Is the colour of their clothes much restricted? Edward Balston: We would not let them wear for instance a yellow coat or any other colour very much out of the way. Lord Clarendon: If they do not adopt anything very extravagant either with respect to colour or cut you allow them to follow their own taste with respect to

2560-409: The first black person to obtain his school-leaving certificate from Eton. Three years later Onyeama was banned from visiting Eton after he published a book which described the racism that he experienced during his time at the school. Simon Henderson , current Head Master of Eton, apologised to Onyeama for the treatment he endured during his time at the school, although Onyeama did not think the apology

2624-567: The first time, members of the British royal family in direct line of succession: the Prince of Wales and his brother the Duke of Sussex , in contrast to the royal tradition of male education at either naval college or Gordonstoun , or by tutors. The Good Schools Guide called the school "the number one boys' public school", adding that "The teaching and facilities are second to none." The school

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2688-529: The founder's hope for a flourishing of knowledge, that flower is also a symbol for the Virgin Mary , in whose honour the college was founded, with the number of three having significance to the Blessed Trinity . The motto of the college is Floreat Etona ("may Eton flourish"). The grant of arms to King's College, Cambridge, is worded identically, but with roses instead of lily-flowers. The school

2752-411: The housemaster, each house has two house captains, two house captains of games and a house captain of arts. All house positions are entitled to "Stick-Ups" (a white bow tie and winged collar). Some houses may have more house captains than the standard rule. House prefects were once elected from the oldest year, but this no longer happens. The old term "Library" survives in the name of the room set aside for

2816-611: The office of Third Secretary in the Diplomatic Service between 1910 and 1917, and the office of Second Secretary in the Diplomatic Service between 1917 and 1919. He was invested as a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1921, and as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1935, and was Surveyor of the King's Works of Art , 1936–43. He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1939 in

2880-583: The oldest year's use, where boys have their own kitchen and living space. Similarly, boys in their penultimate year have a room known as "Debate". There are entire house gatherings every evening, usually around 8:05–8:30 p.m. These are known as "Prayers", due to their original nature. The house master and boys have an opportunity to make announcements, and sometimes the boys provide light entertainment. For much of Eton's history, junior boys had to act as "fags", or servants, to older boys. Their duties included cleaning, cooking, and running errands. A Library member

2944-481: The original charter, attested by the Great Seal of England and preserved in the College archives: Thus the blazon is: Sable, three lily-flowers argent on a chief per pale azure and gules in the dexter a fleur-de-lys in the sinister a lion passant guardant or . The three lilies are also evident on the coat-of-arms of Eton provost Roger Lupton . Although the charter specifies that the lily flowers relate to

3008-436: The original foundation and awarded by examination each year; King's Scholars used to pay up to 90 per cent of full fees, depending on their means. This financial incentive has been phased out. Still, up to a third receive some kind of bursary or scholarship. The name 'King's Scholars' refers to the foundation of the school by King Henry VI in 1440. The original school consisted of the 70 Scholars (together with some Commensals) and

3072-594: The paintings acquired by the first Duke have been on public display. For example, Danaë , an important painting by Titian , long thought to be a copy, was kept in part of the house not open to the public. Danaë and two other Titians reattributed at the same time were briefly put on public exhibition, for the first time, in 2015. The painting collection includes work by: American School British School Dutch School Flemish School French School German School Italian School Spanish School Antonio Canova 's heroic marble nude of Napoleon as Mars

3136-423: The present uniform was first worn as mourning for the death of King George III in 1820 is unfounded. In 1862, Edward Balston , Head Master, noted little in the way of uniform in an interview with the Clarendon Commission . Lord Clarendon: One more question, which bears in some degree upon other schools, namely with regard to the dress. The boys do not wear any particular dress at Eton? Edward Balston: No, with

3200-413: The school on a 100% bursary. Registration at birth, corporal punishment, and fagging are no longer practised at Eton. Academic standards were raised, and by the mid-1990s Eton ranked among Britain's top three schools in getting its pupils into Oxford and Cambridge . The proportion of boys at the school who were sons of Old Etonians fell from 60% in 1960 to 20% in 2016. This has been attributed to

3264-585: The service of the Grenadier Guards . He fought in the Second World War between 1939 and 1945. His diplomatic skills proved invaluable in dealing with the Allies. As a somewhat elderly officer with a spinsterish manner, he earned the nickname 'The Iron Duchess.' Simon Heffer, Editor of Chips Channon's diaries Volume 3 in 2022, records that the nickname was devised by Army colleagues as he

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3328-422: The short term, he wanted to ensure that around 320 pupils per year receive bursaries and that 70 were educated free of charge, with the intention that the number of pupils receiving financial assistance would continue to increase. The Orwell Award is a sixth form scholarship awarded to boys in UK state schools whose academic performance may have been held back by personal circumstance. Boys who earn this award attend

3392-469: The state of nine schools in England, including Eton. Questioned by the commission in 1862, Head Master Edward Balston came under attack for his view that in the classroom little time could be spared for subjects other than classical studies . As with other public schools, a scheme was devised towards the end of the 19th century to familiarise privileged schoolboys with social conditions in deprived areas. The project of establishing an " Eton Mission " in

3456-417: The year: They are called halves because the school year was once split into two halves, between which the boys went home. The School is known for its traditions, including a uniform of black tailcoat (or morning coat ) and black waistcoat , a starched stiff collar and black pinstriped trousers. Most pupils wear a white " tie " which is a narrow strip of cloth folded over the joint of the collar to hide

3520-484: Was Provost , around 1517. His name is borne by the big gatehouse in the west range of the cloisters, fronting School Yard, perhaps the most famous image of the school. This range includes the important interiors of the Parlour, Election Hall, and Election Chamber, where most of the 18th century "leaving portraits" are kept. "After Lupton's time, nothing important was built until about 1670, when Provost Allestree gave

3584-451: Was a second cousin of Thomas Gair Ashton, 1st Baron Ashton of Hyde ). Dorothy's mother was (Lucy) Cecilia Dunn-Gardner , who later became Countess of Scarbrough after marrying Aldred Lumley, 10th Earl of Scarbrough in 1899. Wellesley and Dorothy had two children: The marriage was unhappy and they separated in 1922, but never divorced. Dorothy, a poet, was a lesbian. She became the lover of Vita Sackville-West , (who wrote her entry for

3648-505: Was an Anglo-Irish diplomat, soldier, and architect. Wellesley was the third son of Lord Arthur Wellesley (later 4th Duke of Wellington) and Lady Arthur Wellesley (later Duchess of Wellington, née Kathleen Bulkeley Williams). He was baptised at St. Jude's Church (Church of Ireland) , Kilmainham, Dublin, on 27 September 1885. He was educated at Eton . Wellesley served as a diplomat in the Diplomatic Service in 1908. He held

3712-489: Was deposed by King Edward IV in 1461, the new King annulled all grants to the school and removed most of its assets and treasures to St George's Chapel, Windsor , on the other side of the River Thames . Legend has it that Edward's mistress, Jane Shore , intervened on the school's behalf. She was able to save a good part of the school, although the royal bequest and the number of staff were much reduced. Construction of

3776-507: Was entitled to yell at any time and without notice, "Boy, Up!" or "Boy, Queue!", and all first-year boys had to come running. The last boy to arrive was given the task. These practices, known as fagging , were partially phased out of most houses in the 1970s. Captains of house and games still sometimes give tasks to first-year boys, such as collecting the mail from the school office. There are many inter-house competitions, mostly in sports but also in academics, drama and music. The Head Master

3840-500: Was founded by Henry VI as a charity school to provide free education to 70 poor boys who would then go on to King's College, Cambridge , founded by the same king in 1441. Henry used Winchester College as a model, visiting at least six times (in 1441, 1444, 1446, 1447, 1448, 1449, 1451, 1452) and having its statutes transcribed. Henry appointed Winchester's headmaster, William Waynflete , as Eton's Provost , and transferred some of Winchester's 70 scholars to start his new school. There

3904-473: Was gay. In 1943, he succeeded his nephew, Henry , as Duke of Wellington , Earl of Mornington , and Prince of Waterloo . His nephew's other title, Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo , passed to Henry's sister (his niece) Lady Anne Rhys , before she ceded it to him in 1949. He served as Lord Lieutenant of the County of London between 1944 and 1949 and as Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire between 1949 and 1960. In 1951, he

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3968-916: Was made a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter . In 1953 he became the first Chancellor of the University of Southampton . Among his architecture projects was the remodelling of 5 Belgrave Square , the London home of Henry "Chips" Channon , an Anglo-American member of Parliament, and of Channon's country house, Kelvedon Hall in Essex. Working with Trenwith Wills, Wellesley also remodeled Castle Hill, Filleigh , in Devon; Hinton Ampner in Hampshire; and Biddick Hall in County Durham and St Mary and St George Church, High Wycombe . Wellesley also designed

4032-532: Was necessary. In 2005, the school was one of fifty of the country's leading independent schools found to have breached the Competition Act 1998 (see Eton College controversies ). In 2011, plans to attack Eton College were found on the body of a senior al-Qaeda leader shot dead in Somalia . The coat of arms of Eton College was granted in 1449 by the founder King Henry VI, as recorded as follows on

4096-448: Was noted as being the sixth most expensive HMC boarding school in the UK in 2013–14. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI as Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore, making it the 18th-oldest school in the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC). Originally intended as a sister institution to King's College, Cambridge , Eton is known for its history, wealth, and notable alumni, known as Old Etonians . Eton

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