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A collection of documents relating to Round House, the first purpose-built girls’ boarding house, built in 1972 on what was School House tennis court. The Architect, Tom E. Wilson, designed a building in the shape of a Dovecote, or a Birdcage. The builders were George Duxbury (OO, '34) and Sons. The new house contained thirty bed-sitters on three floors, built around a central spiral stairway. A common room linked the new building with the War Memorial Library. At the back of the Library were built a small flat and domestic offices. Sixty girls moved in from the beginning of the 1972 Winter term and the boarding house was officially opened on 28 October 1972 by Mrs Haywood.

A photograph of girls in the garden of Buchanans house.

This file focusses on photographs of Buchanans, formerly Orchard Close, in the 1980s and 1990s. Some of those photographs were taken for marketing purposes, including publication in the Oakham School Magazine.

A collection of documents, mostly photographs, of Buchanans house, formerly Orchard Close from the 1980s and 1990s.
Orchard Close had been built in 1929 by W.L. Sargant as a private residence along the cricket fields when he retired. Later, in July 1975 the Trustees acquired the house from the school doctor, Dr T.D. Brentnall. In early October 1975, Orchard Close had become a girls’ boarding house. The house was later modernised to accommodate Sixth and Seventh Form girls. It was renamed Buchanans House in Summer 1977, following the retirement of Headmaster J.D. Buchanan. Work was completed on Buchanans house in 1982. The extension was ready for occupation in January 1983 and was officially opened on 23 February by former Headmaster John Buchanan.