Carmel College Mansion House (Mongewell House)
I was told about this little treat by Headflux after a bit of an unlucky morning in Bedford, so nice one dude
There are quite a lot of pic’s with this post as I wanted to try and give a kind of “virtual walk through” most of the rooms. Although there aren’t actually a lot of items left to photograph I’ve tried to catch the feel of the place as I liked it here.
A little history...
Carmel College in Mongewell park, Oxfordshire was founded by the late Kopul Rosen, with the Mansion house being built in 1888 and was used as a hospital for wounded officers during The First World War. Several of the buildings were designed by the local architect Thomas Handcock and Sir Basil Spence. Known as the “Jewish Eton” the college was Europe’s only Jewish boarding school and operated from 1948-1997, although some non Jewish pupils also attended. Carmel pupils were aged between 11-18 years of age with the alumini being referred to as “Old Carmelis”.
From 1990-97 it topped the list of most expensive boarding schools in the county, with typical boarding fees for 1996 being £30,000 a year. The selection process was competitive with applicants requiring to sit entrance exams to demonstrate their ability to contribute to the school ethos and uphold core values (sadly these high standards obviously didn’t apply to certain members of staff who have subsequently been convicted of noncing some of the kids).
The college closed in 1997 due to the reduction of pupils and the institution suffering financial difficulties due to the termination of government assisted places. A small chapel of St. John The Baptist remains open within the grounds, although no longer used for regular services it remains consecrated and is cared for by The Churches Conservation Trust.
The site has been used many times as a filming location, with Mongewell House being inspirational as “Monkswell Manor” in the longest running West End show, Agatha Christie’s play The Mouse Trap.
Future Plans for the site...
The 31.8 hectare site has three Listed buildings; the Julius Gottlieb gallery and boat house, the Jewish Synagogue and an amphitheatre. Plans have been submitted for a new housing development which will incorporate these surviving buildings into the scheme. In total 24 buildings will be demolished including the old dormitories and science block to make way for 13 new two and three story buildings. Redevelopment work has been delayed due to financial issues.
(wiki, Oxfordshire Guardian,HOME - carmelcollege.co.uk)
OK so on with some pics…
carmel 061 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 001 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 031 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 016 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 021 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
I always try to include a bog shot
carmel 035 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 109 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 104 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 114 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 105 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 149 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 153 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 170 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 452 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 455 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 449 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 199 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 189 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 178 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 042 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 232 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 465 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 429 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 399 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 394 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
This made me laugh! I bet George is a CEO of some huge Hedge Fund firm now…hopefully he’s not in therapy...
carmel 373 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 354 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 339 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 320 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 314 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 290 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
I hid in this cupboard for nearly 10 mins but it felt like a couple of hours as I had heard voices and footsteps coming up the stairs. Its times like this when your on a solo trip and you’re in a confined space in a pitch black cupboard that you just simply ask yourself wtf am I doing???? I couldn’t really use my “lookin for bats” excuse this time
carmel 262 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 418 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 239 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 520 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 533 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
carmel 536 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickr
Well if you hung in there thanks for lookin folks…
Be lucky!
I was told about this little treat by Headflux after a bit of an unlucky morning in Bedford, so nice one dude
There are quite a lot of pic’s with this post as I wanted to try and give a kind of “virtual walk through” most of the rooms. Although there aren’t actually a lot of items left to photograph I’ve tried to catch the feel of the place as I liked it here.A little history...
Carmel College in Mongewell park, Oxfordshire was founded by the late Kopul Rosen, with the Mansion house being built in 1888 and was used as a hospital for wounded officers during The First World War. Several of the buildings were designed by the local architect Thomas Handcock and Sir Basil Spence. Known as the “Jewish Eton” the college was Europe’s only Jewish boarding school and operated from 1948-1997, although some non Jewish pupils also attended. Carmel pupils were aged between 11-18 years of age with the alumini being referred to as “Old Carmelis”.
From 1990-97 it topped the list of most expensive boarding schools in the county, with typical boarding fees for 1996 being £30,000 a year. The selection process was competitive with applicants requiring to sit entrance exams to demonstrate their ability to contribute to the school ethos and uphold core values (sadly these high standards obviously didn’t apply to certain members of staff who have subsequently been convicted of noncing some of the kids).
The college closed in 1997 due to the reduction of pupils and the institution suffering financial difficulties due to the termination of government assisted places. A small chapel of St. John The Baptist remains open within the grounds, although no longer used for regular services it remains consecrated and is cared for by The Churches Conservation Trust.
The site has been used many times as a filming location, with Mongewell House being inspirational as “Monkswell Manor” in the longest running West End show, Agatha Christie’s play The Mouse Trap.
Future Plans for the site...
The 31.8 hectare site has three Listed buildings; the Julius Gottlieb gallery and boat house, the Jewish Synagogue and an amphitheatre. Plans have been submitted for a new housing development which will incorporate these surviving buildings into the scheme. In total 24 buildings will be demolished including the old dormitories and science block to make way for 13 new two and three story buildings. Redevelopment work has been delayed due to financial issues.
(wiki, Oxfordshire Guardian,HOME - carmelcollege.co.uk)
OK so on with some pics…
carmel 061 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 001 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 031 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 016 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 021 by Pretty Vacant, on FlickrI always try to include a bog shot
carmel 035 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 109 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 104 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 114 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 105 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 149 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 153 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 170 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 452 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 455 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 449 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 199 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 189 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 178 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 042 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 232 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 465 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 429 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 399 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 394 by Pretty Vacant, on FlickrThis made me laugh! I bet George is a CEO of some huge Hedge Fund firm now…hopefully he’s not in therapy...
carmel 373 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 354 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 339 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 320 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 314 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 290 by Pretty Vacant, on FlickrI hid in this cupboard for nearly 10 mins but it felt like a couple of hours as I had heard voices and footsteps coming up the stairs. Its times like this when your on a solo trip and you’re in a confined space in a pitch black cupboard that you just simply ask yourself wtf am I doing???? I couldn’t really use my “lookin for bats” excuse this time
carmel 262 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 418 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 239 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 520 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 533 by Pretty Vacant, on Flickrcarmel 536 by Pretty Vacant, on FlickrWell if you hung in there thanks for lookin folks…
Be lucky!
