A Rosebank History

History of Rosebank School (thanks to ex pupil Peter Fox for information. See also Peter's notes on the school)

Rosebank, the house in Elwick Road, was for many years the home of George Pyman son of George Pyman a successful Hartlepool shipbuilder. Trade directories list it as a Pyman home until 1927 and therafter it is not listed until 1933 when it seems to have opened as a private boys' day school owned by FM Woode. A 1964 prospectus notes that it became Rosebank High School in 1939. There is  a 1934 prospectus calling it Rosebank Boys' High School and fees termly were 4-6 guineas. This 1934 prospectus does also call the school ' this old established school' as prior to 1933, the school had its origins in The Boys' High School York Road (and before that Milton St) which had been previously run by Mr Woode, before him Mr Scott and originally by Mr Davis in 1875. The headteacher at the time of the move to Rosebank was F.M Woode and the school was advertised as being situated in a healthy part of the town.

From 1939, Kingsley Gallimore M.A. was the well known headmaster. He was also was Mayor of Hartlepool in 1969 . In 1952 it was fully recognised by the Ministry of Education. Mr Gallimore bought Ambleside Manor next door to Rosebank and the ground and first floors of this building became the Senior School, with the Rosebank building housing  infant and junior age children.

In 1941, the school was housed in Heather Brae Middleton in Teesdale, noted in the Teesdale Mercury of Jan 22nd 1941 when Kingsley Gallimore spoke at the Teesdale Literary and Debating Society.

 The Pyman family built a ship in Hartlepool in 1901 named Rosebank and it is assumed that it was named after the house.  The school badge showed a large anchor again reflecting the shipbuilding interest.

Principal Mr Gallimore lived on the upper floor of Ambleside with his sister Minnie. It appears that on buying Ambleside Manor, he sold the lower part of the garden to West Hartlepool Council and it became part of the Burn Valley Gardens. The school closed in 1987 many photographs and much memorabilia being donated to Hartlepool Museum Service.

In 1988 parts of the Rosebank building were demolished following a fire, and a small group of detached houses were built and called 'Rosebank'.  Ambleside Manor remains as residential  accommodation split into apartments and looking at it from the Burn Valley looks very little changed.

According to Mr. D.Bruce (ex.Rosebankian and Hartlepuddlian), Mr. Gallimore's sister's name,, was infact, Constance. The name 'Minnie' was a nickname given to her because of her uncanny resemblance to Minnie Bannister off the Goon Show.

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