Methodist College Belfast History of the Houses

History of the Houses at Methodist College Belfast 1

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Ritchie House (Red)

The Ritchie House was named after Alice Ritchie. She was employed by The College in 1891, as a language teacher, who became Head of French and Lady Principal of MacArthur Hall from 1906 until her untimely death in 1920. She was tragically killed in a motor accident in the Malmaison area of Paris whilst on holiday. Her body was interred in the English cemetery in Paris.

Such was the love for Mrs Ritchie that there was an overwhelming response to an appeal for a lasting memorial. A tablet designed by the ‘Art Master’, Mr Charles Braithwaite, was installed in the entrance foyer of MacArthur Hall and remains to this day. The money raised from the appeal was so plentiful that the Ritchie Award for Language and Literature was introduced and is still awarded annually at Prize Day.

Alice Ritchie Memorial in MacArthur Hall

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Shillington House (Green)

Shillington House was named after Elizabeth Shillington who became the first ever Lady Principal of MacArthur Hall in 1891.

The Shillington family were heavily involved in the leadership of the College at the turn of the century, but we have very little information about Elizabeth other than the fact that she was a deeply religious lady.

It is recorded that when she resigned her position in 1906, the Board of Govenors recorded their appreciation by stating. ‘’She has laboured earnestly, and with a large measure of success, to bring the moral tone and educational value of the institution up to the highest standards.’’

The first photo of MacArthur Hall boarders from 1893. Miss E Shillington can be seen in the front row wearing white. Interestingly, the lady beside her wearing black is Alice Ritchie (Ritchie House), she started life in boarding as the assistant warden.

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Ewing House (Yellow)

Isobel Ewing

Ewing House was named after Isobel Ewing O.B.E. who took over the Wardenship of MacArthur Hall in 1920 after the death of Miss Alice Ritchie.

Her OBE was in recognition of her services to the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps. She had been assistant Controller of the Northern Area of England and in 1918 Controller of Headquarters staff, taking over the whole administration of the Corps in the Western Command.

She was chosen from a long list of applicants for the advertised role but perhaps her experience at Farrington’s School in Kent, (a Methodist Boarding School for girls) gave her the necessary experience required.

She stepped back from her position in 1928 to return to her native Scotland and played her part in more ‘important war work’ in WW11.

News of her death reached MCB in the autumn of 1945.

MacArthur Hall as it would have looked at the turn of the century

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Edgeworth House (Blue)

Maria Edgeworth 1768-1849

It is thought that Edgeworth House was named after the renowned 18th century novelist, Maria Edgeworth who was the daughter of Richard Edgeworth, owner of a large estate in Edgeworthstown, in County Longford.

She was best known for her work in children’s literature and her book entitled Practical Education (1798). She strongly believed that boys and girls should be educated together and given the same opportunities.

Edgeworthstown House, County Longford *We have very little information on all the Houses, but we have been able to fill in the gaps with extended research. With Edgeworth, however, we stand to be corrected. There are no records for any students or staff members called Edgeworth at Methodist College but after much research we feel like this is the most likely link.

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MacArthur House (Black)

Sir William MacArthur

As the numbers of girls increased at The College a fifth ‘house’ was required and so in 1968 it was decided that the boarding girls would compete in inter-house competitions as MacArthur House.

The House was named after MacArthur Hall which itself had been named after Sir William MacArthur, the founder of Methodist College.

What is perhaps not so well known is that Sir William never knew that the girls’ boarding hall would have his name attached to it and subsequently become part of the house system for years to come.

MCB began as a school for the sons of Methodist ministers however Sir William felt that daughters of the clergy should also be entitled to similar quality education.

Unfortunately, Sir William never got to see his dreams come to fruition as he passed away suddenly on 16th November on the London underground train between Nottinghill and Paddington. By the time of his death, he had already pledged a large sum of money for the establishment of a girls’ boarding hall at The College.

The MacArthur coat of arms can be seen on the front of the building with the date of MacArthur Halls completion.

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Bedell (Yellow)

Rev William Bedell (1571-1642)

Bedell House was named after the Rev William Bedell. He was educated at Emmanuel College Cambridge and was Chief Academic Officer at Trinity College. He eventually accepted the position of Anglican Bishop in the Diocese of Kilmore and Ardagh, in Cavan.

He achieved many things in his career but is perhaps best known for commissioning the Old Testament and Catechism to be translated into Irish due to his strong belief that everyone was entitled to ministry.

He is depicted on a corbel at St. Annes Cathedral and on a stained-glass window at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

Corbel on St. Anne’s Cathedral Emmanuel College, Cambridge (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

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Castlereagh House (Blue)

Robert Stewart – Viscount Castlereagh

Castlereagh House was named after Robert Stewart, the 2nd Marquess of Londonderry. He was known as Lord Castlereagh after his courtesy title Viscount Castlereagh. He was born in Dublin in 1769 but the family home is one that lots of us visit frequently at Mount Stewart.

He served on both the Irish parliament and the British parliament. He was secretary of state for foreign affairs and foreign secretary of the UK. The family supported Methodist College over the years and in the 1930s the 7th Marquess of Londonderry donated all the books to our old library in School House.

Castlereagh was one of the original three male boarding houses.

The inter-house competition began in 1931 with one simple relay race on sports day. Castlereagh House finished 3rd.

Castlereagh House report – school magazine 1962/63

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Kelvin House (Green)

William Thomson – 1st Baron Kelvin

Kelvin House was named after William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin and was one of the original houses at The College. Lord Kelvin was born in Belfast in 1824 and became a Mathematician and engineer. Such was his success that he is arguably one of Belfast’s most famous sons. His name is attached to many things but he is perhaps most famous for the Kelvin unit of temperature.

As you walk from Methodist College into Botanic Gardens you will pass by his statue and perhaps this is what gave the idea for a Kelvin House at MCB. Kelvin was another of the original houses at The College and indeed can boast to the fact that they won the first ever competitive competition, the inter-house relay in 1931.

Kelvin House report – school magazine 1965/66

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Kelvin statue – Botanic Gardens

Neill House (Brown)

Charles Seaver Neill As the intake of The College continued to increase, another house was required and in 1964/65 ‘Neill House’ became the sixth and final boys’ house.

C.S. Neill was a pupil at Methodist College in 1880 and one of the founding members of Collegians R.F.C. He was captain, secretary and president of the club but his most significant contribution was that he very generously presented the land at Deramore, for the use of Collegians.

The former clubhouse was named in his honour in 1962. (see photo attached) Amazingly, 143 years after this man walked through the doors of School House for the first time he still has a connection with Methodist College due to the CS Neill awards that are won annually at our prize distribution for pupils who have excelled in their school sports.

Collegians Old Pavilion sign

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Wellington House (Red)

Arthur Wellesley – 1st Duke of Wellington

Wellington House was named after the 1st Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley. He was born in Dublin in 1769 and went on to become the British Prime Minister in 1828 but is undoubtedly better known for his major roles within the military in the Napoleonic wars. He was known as the Iron Duke and he also gave his name to the household item that is Wellington Boots.

Wellington was one of the original four houses at Methodist College and was used for the College’s ‘day pupils.’ There are no official minutes to explain why a house was named after him at MCB but it is interesting to note that the two roads immediately south of the school’s campus are Wellesley Avenue and Wellington Park.

Records show that it was quite successful during house competitions, winning many tournaments and races. Its first competitive inter-house appearance was as runner-up at the school’s sports day in 1931. Sports day that year took place at the Balmoral Show Grounds and the events lasted for two days.

Wellington House report – School magazine 1948/49

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School House (Black)

School House at the turn of the century

School House clearly took its name from the main school building. It was home for the male boarders from the school’s inception until boarding closed its doors in 2010 but it wasn’t introduced to the house system until the 1960s.

In the 1920s, there were only four male houses, three boarding houses (as can be seen from one of the photographs attached) and the other for day pupils. The boarding boys moved through each house depending on what school year they were in.

In the 1930s the house system became competitive, and boys were each assigned to one of the already existing houses and there they remained until the day they left school. With the growing number of boys at The College a new house was required and ‘School House’, was added as a competitive house for all male boarders in 1964.

The records are somewhat sketchy, but it seems that the majority of School House’s successes came in the swimming competitions!

A boarding issue comes to light in the Board of Governors minutes from the 1920s about Castlereagh House

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