House History

AUSTEN BECKINGHAM HAMONDE NETTLES POWELL VALPY

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The House System

Throughout the rich history of the School, the RGS has undergone numerous changes, one of which was from housing boys in the Old Building as boarders, to becoming a day school. The House system has, however, stood the test of time and The Guildfordian magazine, which began in 1919, describes the reasoning and necessity of maintaining a House system: “A Day School misses some of the advantages of a Boarding School, and in order to gain what we can of the corporate life of the latter, the Upper School is now organised as four houses. This, we trust, will lead to a healthy rivalry in esprit de corps and skill and success both in and out of School. House matches will in future be played in all games, and House competitions will be held at the Annual Sports. As each of the four Platoons in the O.T.C. is drawn from a House, the scheme fits in excellently with the organisation throughout. One outstanding advantage is that many boys unable to get into School 1st or 2nd XI, will have some real incentive to take a more vigorous share in out of school activities.” (1919)

The initial focus was to introduce healthy rivalry during all school games, particularly for those students who were not selected to represent the School. It was hoped the boys would develop a sense of pride, community, and loyalty, by being in Houses, and above all would have the incentive to enjoy all that school life has to offer.

During the 1921/22 academic year, it was deemed more appropriate to name the houses after key benefactors who helped to establish and maintain the School. This was the start of our current House system: “It has long been felt that a more satisfactory arrangement would be to assign definite names to them, particularly as we have already a number of honoured names from which to make a choice … [the former houses] will be known as the Hamonde, Nettles, Beckingham, and Austen Houses respectively. The old names still linger, but already one frequently hears discussions as to the chances of the Hamondites against the Nettlesites, and the possibilities of the Austenites proving victorious against the Beckinghamites.”

The first four Houses were given their colours, and badges were introduced to recognise awarding of House Colours.

The early events of swimming, boxing, chess, football, rugby, cricket, OTC drill, fives, gymnastics, PT, and athletics, were keenly contested. Points for each of the inter-house events were awarded and this decided the overall House Championship title. Austen were the first victors! The following year, Messrs BE and SD Hardy donated a cup to be used for the inter-house championship. Yet again, Austen house were the winners of the Hardy Cup in 19231.

Bertrand Hardy (1903-88) had two sons at the School, one who was school captain - Wallis B Hardy. Bertrand and his brother, Stanley Hardy (1881-1962), owned a gentleman’s outfitters in Guildford. This shop also supplied school clothing for the RGS. 1

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The importance of the House system, as part of the holistic education, was explained in detail during his welcome speech in the 1922 Speech Day by the Headmaster at the time, Arthur Green: “The Headmaster said he wished that when judgement was passed by parents on the School it would be passed not upon the class work, important as that was, and not upon the amount of activities only, important as they were, but on the work and play and discipline of the School as a whole, considered from the effect they were having in training the character and developing the mind of their sons. People came to a feeling of their manhood by very different roads, but one big step on the journey always was the discovery that there was something in this world that they could do well, and enjoy doing… That was why the principle upon which the School was run was that there should be as many activities as possible, that boys of very different physical and intellectual make-up should find something in which they could excel.”

The next couple of decades saw the inter-house events being keenly contested, reported by The Guildfordian in detail.

There was a strong focus on each event, as well as the overall championship.

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However, by the mid to late 40s, probably in part impacted by the global situation at the time, there was minimal mention of the overall championship, or indeed the Hardy Cup. The Guildfordian continued to be printed, and it contained reports on inter-house events, but the focus had shifted to competing for individual event cups. There was no mention of an overall winning house until the 1960s, when the House System saw significant changes. However, the late 50s/early 60s did see the introduction of ‘House Parties’! Each House had one party after school, usually around the festive period. The prefects of each House provided the entertainment for these events, which were described as popular and enjoyable, but controversial!

From 1962, editions of The Guildfordian contained House reports, as opposed to event reports, written by senior students from the respective Houses. It is from the Austen report that we see the first mention of a Cock House: “There is no need to flatter ourselves with a lot of empty compliments about the House, for, after all, self-praise is not one of the characteristics of ‘Austenites’. We all say, and quite rightly so, that we are undoubtedly better than any of the other Houses, yet we say it with the modesty of true assurance. A glance at some of our achievements in the past year will be sufficient to dispel any doubts as to who is really ‘Cock House’: we are the joint house champions of cricket, and the sole champions of soccer, rugger, gym, chess, athletics, and swimming; in fact, the only sport we are not champions of are boxing and cross-country, but even in the former we have the senior champion!

I will not, however, accept the charge sometimes levelled at us that we are ‘All boot and no brain’.

I could name at least five boys who in the last year have won outstanding scholastic achievements, whereas in the CCF, we hold most of the senior appointments, and moreover, won the annual drill competition, a fact which illustrates our integrity, competence and efficiency. I think therefore that you will all be with me in quoting the words of that immortal ballad: Hamonde, Nettles, Beckingham, They think they’re mighty fine, But best of all is Austen House, ‘Cos Austen House is mine.

It seems this was a more widely used term, particularly in schools at the time in which cock denoted confidence or dominance. Thus, the Cock House would be the dominant House, the one which won most of the individual events.

Whilst the exact etymology of the term is unclear, the use of cock in this sense seems to have roots from the way a cock, or rooster, would strut around. Later, it became applied to men, as a status term. Interestingly, in an article for the Journal of British Studies, J Middleton (2013) examines the cultural history of playground violence in Britain during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He stated that through the frequent playground fights, children would compete for the title of cock of the school, the term attached to the best fighter. Therefore, by the mid-twentieth century, this term had evolved into the House systems of many schools in Britain.

With the expansion of the School, both in terms of the number of students and building space, the 1964/65 year saw the introduction of two new Houses: Valpy and Powell. Furthermore, the First Forms were not yet brought into the system. Although this was a disruptive time for some students who had to switch allegiance and move House, it was hoped that this would provide more opportunities for all students to get involved with the activities. It was also at this time that a renewed focus on the overall championship was reported in editions of The Guildfordian, with the winning House being awarded the Cock House Cup.

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Housemasters and deputies - 2021

1969 saw the introduction of Tutors being attached to Houses, as well as House assemblies. It was hoped that through the assemblies, boys who were less inclined to be involved in the various events, would know more about them, be more willing to support their House, and hopefully more encouraged to take part. Sadly, it does seem that the House System was reaching a low point, in terms of engagement, and fifty years on from the institution of our current House System, The Guildfordian contained the following extract (1971): “The general lack of real enthusiasm by members of any House is a disappointing aspect of the House system, which aims at providing a stimulus for creative competitive activity. Perhaps the over-emphasis on sport is unattractive to many, and the introduction of House drama competitions or Craft exhibitions might involve more House members than at present. In fact, the School as a whole, as well as the Houses, would benefit considerably from anything that will replace the deadness of spirit that is so lamentably evident in the School now.”

This low time for the School may be, in part, attributable to the fire that destroyed much of the Old Building. However, it is safe to say that since this low point, engagement with, and enjoyment for the House System significantly improved.

Several passionate House reports over the intervening years detailed various House strengths and successes, and desires to achieve top spot. The reports also spoke fondly of the dedication and support given by the Housemasters and other House staff, without whom there would be no House System.

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The House System Today Following two years of lockdown disruption caused by COVID, the centenary anniversary during the 2021-22 academic year afforded the opportunity to celebrate the successes of our House System, and ensure it was meeting its original aims by affording all students the opportunities to “take a more vigorous share in out of school activities.” New events of golf and art were added to the calendar, whilst music and debating made a welcome comeback. With 23 events to choose from, there really is something for everyone! However, the House System has been, and continues to be, more than just a competition. As a convenient way of grouping students and fostering vertical integration, it also supports the promotion of outreach and charitable works. Houses in the 80s and 90s sponsored Thai children through their education, whilst recent times have seen wide-ranging House charity days.

The Hardy Cup Considering the origins of the term ‘cock house’ (above), the centenary year provided an appropriate time to mark a return to our historical origins. The name of our House trophy should not be rooted in power, dominance, and winning – rather, the very ethos, central to the system, is about respect, teamwork, and fun. Therefore, as a tribute to the kind donors of the original trophy, Bertrand and Stanley Hardy, students at the RGS Guildford will resume the tradition and compete, once again, in 2021-22, for the Hardy Cup.

Karim Tayar Senior Housemaster June 2022

Nettles’ charity day November 2019 – gunge the teacher.

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House Championship - the first 100 years 1920

House 4 (Austen)

1954

?

1988

Austen

1921

House 4 (Austen)

1955

?

1989

Beckingham

1922

Austen

1956

?

1990

Austen

1923

Austen

1957

?

1991

Nettles

1924

Nettles

1958

?

1992

Nettles

1925

Beckingham

1959

?

1993

Nettles

1926

Nettles

1960

?

1994

Nettles

1927

Austen

1961

?

1995

Nettles

1928

Austen

1962

?

1996

Powell

1929

Austen

1963

?

1997

Powell

1930

Beckingham

1964

Hamonde

1998

Powell

1931

Beckingham

1965

Nettles

1999

Hamonde

1932

Beckingham

1966

Nettles

2000

Nettles

1933

Hamonde

1967

Powell

2001

Hamonde

1934

Hamonde

1968

Hamonde

2002

Valpy

1935

Beckingham

1969

Hamonde

2003

Valpy

1936

Beckingham

1970

Hamonde

2004

Valpy

1937

Nettles

1971

Powell

2005

Powell

1938

Austen

1972

Hamonde

2006

Powell

1939

Austen

1973

Valpy

2007

Hamonde

1940

Austen

1974

Austen

2008

Hamonde

1941

Austen

1975

Austen

2009

Hamonde

1942

Hamonde

1976

Valpy

2010

Hamonde

1943

Hamonde

1977

Austen

2011

Hamonde

1944

Austen

1978

Powell

2012

Powell

1945

Austen

1979

Beckingham

2013

Hamonde

1946

Hamonde

1980

Beckingham / Nettles

2014

Nettles

1947

Powell

1981

Beckingham

2015

Beckingham

1948

?

1982

Beckingham

2016

Beckingham

1949

Austen

1983

Beckingham

2017

Powell

1950

?

1984

Valpy

2018

Austen

1951

?

1985

Beckingham

2019

Austen

1952

?

1986

Beckingham

2020

Valpy

1953

?

1987

Hamonde

2021

Austen

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