School Buildings

The fire caused by boiling snail shells

In 1899 almost the entire school was destroyed by fire. A pupil boiling snail shells in the Natural History room was called away for reading time. Unfortunately, the snails then caught fire. The resulting conflagration destroyed the gymnasium, schoolrooms, workshop, laboratories, observatory, and masters’ room. When the fire brigade informed the headmaster that his school was burning down he promptly resigned and the school had to be transferred to a temporary location on Oliver's Mount in Scarborough.

The infirmary of Bootham School

The Vestibule of Bootham School

Rebuilding work

Arthur Rowntree was then appointed head and rebuilding work began. The school was reopened in 1902, and at the same time it acquired properties along Bootham and Portland Street as the new school took shape. The swimming baths were built in 1914 and Joseph Rowntree donated Penn House in 1920. Rawcliffe Lane Playing Fields were purchased in 1920 in memory of the old boys killed in the Great War.

After World War Two

In the post-war period a large extension was required to accommodate the new 11-13 age range of pupils. A model of the proposed building was constructed and exhibited on a fund-raising mission around the UK in a van, which for some reason was impounded when it reached Ireland. The van travelled 2000 miles in total and raised £50,000. The building at the heart of school life today is the award-winning School Hall, designed by the architect Trevor Dannatt.

Swimming lessons