Elizabeth Fry Hall was completed in 1959 and opened officially by Mrs Janet Whitney, an American biographer of Elizabeth Fry, on Tuesday 29th September, 1959.
Elizabeth Fry was a wealthy lady born into the Gurney family (of banking fame-Barclays) in Magdalene St in Norwich but with a country estate at Earlham Hall. She was very well connected in society and developed an interest in prison reform after visiting Newgate prison in London. She was known for developing a new approach to prisoner care and was a frequent visitor, often reading her bible to prisoners as she was from a Quaker family. She later promoted a national scheme for libraries and was a keen support of education. She even had time to have eleven children!
We are not sure whether the name Elizabeth Fry was chosen because of her connection with education, her large family or her interest in reforming prisons. We don’t think it is the latter.
Originally the Hall was two girls’ boarding houses; Wells House on the side facing Peel and Westminster House, facing Cavell.
In September the Hall became a mixed boarding house managed by a house warden. This name changed to Housemaster/Housemistress after the school became comprehensive and to Head of House just after the school became Grant Maintained in 1991.
List of House Wardens/Housemasters/Housemistresses/Heads of House.
Wells House 1959-1972 Miss M. Colls
Westminster House 1959-1961 Miss Holm
1962-1966 Miss E. Mair
1967-1971 Miss A. Howard (became Mrs M Brand 1968)
Washington House 1971(Sept)-1971(Dec) Mrs Dennison
(complex change over) 1972(Jan)-1972(Aug) Mrs E. McBeath
Fry Hall 1972-1974 Mr M.W. Brand.
1974-1978 Mr D.L. Lockwood
1978-1981 Mr J.E. Belmont
1981-1983 Mr D.L. Lockwood
1983-1998 Mr M.W. Brand
1998-present Dr. C.G. Jones
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