A beautiful, elegant ragstone house, Park Grange was built in 1869 for George Berkley who later became a governor of the school. The original estate was extensive, with a coach house and stables attached to the house, gardens, a wood, an orchard and a walled kitchen garden. The house was bought by the school in 1948, and was used as classrooms until it became a boys' Boarding House. In 1988, as the school became co-educational, Park Grange became a Boarding House for girls. The main house retains many of its original features, including oak-panelling, the old kitchen range and fireplaces.
Pastoral Care
The Housemistress of Park Grange, Mrs Elizabeth Bassett, who also teaches Chemistry at the school, lives in the House with her husband and two children. She is tutor for the Sixth Form students. Miss Astria Nairn, the Assistant Housemistress, also lives on site. She is a sports teacher and is the tutor for the Y10 and Y11 girls. Miss Cathy Gilliat-Smith, a sports teacher, is the Resident Tutor, with specific responsibility for Y9. In addition, Park Grange has two Assistant Tutors who come in on a weekly basis: Miss Rachel Yu, a Chemistry teacher, and Ms Vicki Longhurst who is in the Geography department. During the day, the matrons, Mrs Alex Diebel and Mrs Doreen Lillyman, care for the girls' needs. There is also a team of dedicated domestic staff and a Houseman.
Accommodation
Park Grange is extremely well situated in that it enjoys close proximity to the main school campus with all its facilities and yet feels like home. There are well-proportioned, elegant rooms in the main house, which are full of character and have magnificent views of the grounds and Knole Park beyond. There is an attractive, purpose-build Sixth Form wing set around a peaceful courtyard. The Lower Sixth girls share rooms while the Upper Sixth all have single rooms. The large television room is very useful for functions, as is the Games room, with its French windows opening up onto a large lawn. The kitchen is one of the main areas for socialising and it encourages friendships between year groups as well as within them. There is a computer room, although the house now also has a wireless connection to the school network, and there are facilities for music practice.
Annual House Events
The main house events at Park Grange include two major charity events. The whole school is invited to the Park Grange Charity Lunch, and over £4000 is raised for charity each year. The House Ball for Sixth Form students takes place in the Spring. In addition to the end of term Break-up suppers, the summer barbecues and various other dinners and social evenings, there are theatre trips, a Christmas shopping trip, informal concerts and a Christmas drinks party to which parents are invited.