We are delighted to announce that Tudor will be the next boarding house at Rugby School to undergo refurbishment. This exciting project will not only modernise and enhance the interior of Tudor but will also include significant improvements to the exterior.

One of the key changes will be the restoration of Tudor’s original pitched roof, which was sadly lost to a fire in the 1960s and replaced with the current flat roof. Restoring the pitched roof will not only enhance the building’s appearance but also create additional space for the girls to enjoy. This extra space will enable us to provide ensuite facilities for all rooms, as well as a new House kitchen, updated study areas, and improved social spaces.

Judith Robinson, Director of Estates, expressed her enthusiasm for the project:

“By putting the pitched roof back on, we create the space to keep the same number of rooms while making them ensuite. It is a lovely bonus that doing this allows us to return Tudor to its original form, making it sit much better within its Conservation Area setting, where all the other buildings have pitched roofs.”

Located on Horton Crescent, Tudor has a long and distinguished history. In 1891, 4 Horton Street was occupied by retired Professor of Music Edwin Edwards and family. He had been appointed to Rugby School in 1867 and retired in 1886. The property was then opened as Stallard House in 1893 by George Stallard, and was purchased by Rugby School in 1913. At this point it was renamed 'Tudor'. Initially a boys’ house, it became a girls’ house in 2002 when the boys and the House Master relocated to Whitelaw.

We have discovered three items relating to the fire at Tudor House in September 1962 (see excerpts pictured below). An excerpt from Headmaster Walter Hamilton’s talk on speech day in 1963, where he sounds light-hearted about the fire (26 July 1962 Meteor); a note in the Old Rugbeian Society newsletter (January 1963); plus, a copy of an article from the Rugby Advertiser (21 September 1962) sourced from the British Newspaper Archive website. They reveal that the school managed to tidy up the building after the fire in time for the return of boys for the new term which was only six days away.

The refurbishment of Tudor is a significant undertaking, expected to take two years. This project promises to honour the house’s rich history while creating a contemporary and comfortable environment for future generations of Rugbeians. We look forward to sharing updates with the Rugbeian Community as the project progresses.

Tudor House now (above)
Tudor House before the fire in the 1960s (below) 

Plans for Refurbishment: 

An excerpt from Headmaster Walter Hamilton’s talk on speech day in 1963 (26 July 1962 Meteor)
A note in the Old Rugbeian Society newsletter (January 1963)

An article from the Rugby Advertiser (21 September 1962) sourced from the British Newspaper Archive website.