Charles Edward Brooke Girls' School, Cormont Road

Image: © Marathon Taken: 28 Aug 2011

Board Schools are usually very impressive buildings and Charles Edward Brooke Girls' School with its twin towers and spires is no exception. The school dates from 1897 when it was built for the London School Board and overlooks Myatts Fields Park. It is part of the Minet Estate. The Minet Estate was built up from the 1870s onwards and the Minet family provided a number of amenities, including the Minet Library and gave the site for Myatts Fields. The Minets were originally French Huguenots and the name Minet means little cat or kitten in French. A little cat was included in many of the buildings when the area was developed by the Minet family. The school will be changing its name to Saint Gabriel's College in September 2012, when it becomes co-educational. St Gabriel's College next door to the school in Cormont Road was the First London General Hospital. It was installed in August 1914 when the College emptied of young male students who had enlisted to fight in the war. The interesting history of the hospital and school can be read at http://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/firstlondon.html

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