Our  History

Robert of Hemsted built the first house on the site.

The Manor was granted to William of Guldeford by Richard II.

The house was sold to Sir John Norris, Admiral of the Fleet and Vice Admiral of England. Sir John Norris planted conifers, which were grown from seed gathered on his voyages — hence Admiral’s Avenue. Foul Weather Jack was his nickname. His grandson, John, married Kitty Fisher who died from smallpox in Bath just four months later. She is buried in the Norris crypt in Benenden Church.

Gathorne Hardy, Lord Cranbrook, acquired the property for £157,000. Following the demolition of the existing Elizabethan house in 1860 he commissioned David Brandon, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects to design a new mansion on a site a little to the east, at a cost of £18,544. Traces of the old house and its surrounding moat still remain. William Broderick Thomas was the landscape designer responsible for laying out the elaborate gardens and new approaches to the mansion. The site included a pinetum begun in the early 18th century, and a lake at the southwest corner of Park Wood.

Lord Cranbrook also rebuilt much of the village of Benenden, restoring the church and clearing the village green of houses to create one of the earliest village cricket pitches.

In April Christine Sheldon CBE, Anne Hindle MBE and Kathleen Bird, three teachers from Wycombe Abbey, announced the foundation of a new public school for girls. In July the first Council Meeting was held and twenty-four girls were registered. A furnished school in Bickley became the temporary home for the first term and then the trio set about finding a house with at least 70 bedrooms and large grounds – another challenge.

The first Hobbies Display. New House was built to accommodate first Medway and then Marshall.

In the Cloisters the pigsties and cowstalls were pulled down, to be replaced by classrooms. An outdoor swimming pool was built. Clevelands, opposite the Green, was purchased. The first General Inspection was made; Benenden was recognised as efficient. There were 200 girls on the school roll. Seniors Association established. School Magazine inaugurated.

1930 – Echyngham (now Norris) was built.

1934 – The Ballad of Benenden was written and performed for the first time.

1936 – Guldeford House study and the Dining Room were built.

1938 – The Hall was built, at a cost of £8,500.

1939 – 3 September: Outbreak of the Second World War.

Capitaine Jean Maridor, a French Free pilot died saving the School from a V-1 rocket.

The School returns to Benenden.

Elizabeth Clarke CVO, JP became Headmistress. She had first come to the School as a teacher, but had subsequently left to study Law and was called to the Bar. Returning to teaching she had risen to become Vice-Principal of Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Upon her death she bequeathed £3million to Benenden School.

1955 – The new Library (now the Art wing) was opened (originally conceived as a Chapel).

1956 – The Chapel was built and dedicated by Archbishop Fisher.

1957 – Princess Benedikte of Denmark became a pupil.

The New Wing was built, with dormitory space that meant that girls no longer had to sleep at Parsonage and Somers. The Dining Room was extended into a courtyard. This released the Terrace Room, which became Guldeford House study.

1981 – The Bernard Sunley Gymnasium was built.

1983 – Diamond Jubilee Service at Canterbury Cathedral. Founders House was opened on Speech Day.

1984 – Miss Bird died on 20 December.

The hurricane and the beginning of major re-landscaping. 250 trees had to come down in the parkland and 60 in the gardens.

Mrs duCharme leaves Benenden School. Mrs Claire Oulton, Head of St Catherine’s, Bramley appointed as Headmistress.

Performance of ‘Me and My Girl’ at the London Palladium. Norris development completed, creating seven new class rooms and second floor study bedrooms. School Dining Room and Cloisters refurbished. School website launched. The New Stage Theatre Campaign launched.

2007 New Theatre is opened by Helena Bonham-Carter. ‘Grease’ first production staged.

2008 School welcomes HRH The Princess Royal to Seniors’ Day. Refurbishment and installation of Seniors’ window in the Chapel followed by rededication service. ‘Leading the Field’ Campaign launched at Olympic Games in Hong Kong in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal. School participates in MUN.

2009 Eco-Classroom opened, situated in the Victorian Water Gardens.

2010 New School Café is opened.

Mrs Claire Oulton leaves Benenden School.

The Centenary Vision is officially launched by HRH The Princess Royal. The Vision outlines a series of curriculum and development innovations to be introduced in time for the school’s centenary. These include the introduction of the Benenden Diploma and the Professional Skills Programme as well as developments including a new All-Weather Pitch and Pavilion, additional staff housing, new School Hall and Music School and enhancements to SPLASH.

The Benenden Diploma – the School’s enquiry-led curriculum for 11 and 12 year-olds – is launched.

Combined Cadet Force introduced at Benenden for the first time.

The Heart of Benenden campaign gets underway, focusing on delivering the new School Hall and Music School.

Benenden becomes the first girls’ school to host the annual conference of The Eight, a group of some of the UK’s leading independent schools.

Benenden’s 1st team wins the National Schools Lacrosse Tournament.

Construction work begins on the new School Hall and Music School – the Heart of Benenden Campaign.

Benenden announces that it will be creating a boarding house dedicated to the Fourths for the first time, following the success of year group boarding, introduced due to pandemic bubble arrangements, for the Fourths.

Junior Bake Off is filmed at Benenden.

Benenden celebrates its Centenary for the 2023/24 academic year. Initiatives include:

• the unveiling of a Centenary sculpture
• the publication of Benenden 100, a specially-produced book
• global conference, Inspiring Future Female Leaders, for Sixth Formers, held in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal and in collaboration with the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools
• Celebratory service at Canterbury Cathedral
• a 100 Acts of Kindness initiative
• A performance of a modernised version of the Benenden Pageant