The Manor

Lower School Boarding (Boys and Girls, First-Third Form inc.)

The Manor is a fabulous Victorian mansion set in 65 acres of grounds and ancient woodland. The house was built in the 1860s for Edward Pleydell-Bouverie, who was MP for Kilmarnock in Scotland for 30 years and held various posts in the Liberal administration of Lord Palmerston. The house motto ‘Patria Cara Carior Libertas’ (your country is dear; but freedom is dearer) is taken from the Pleydell-Bouverie family motto.

The Manor was bought by the School in the 1920s and has been a superb facility for our Lower School boarding community ever since.

Today, the house accommodates approximately 80 Lower School boarders (aged 11-14). A dedicated team of house staff and their families all live on-site, ensuring a safe and structured environment for Dauntsey's youngest boarders, who enjoy living in a caring and friendly home from home atmosphere. Positioned a short walk away from the main school campus means pupils are able to enjoy the sense of coming home after school and there is always plenty for them to do when they arrive at The Manor.

As well as a large array of indoor leisure facilities, outside there are; flood-lit tennis courts, a seven-hole golf course and plenty of mountain biking opportunities in The Manor woods and grounds. Activities are laid on for pupils every weekend, as well as a number of larger outings in the year which usually included trips to the pantomime and an activity weekend in Cornwall.

In keeping with the Lower School day houses, The Manor is a co-educational house, so boys and girls study, socialise and eat together. The boys' and girls' accommodation is on separate floors with house staff accommodation on each floor.

Life at The Manor

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Housemistress - Mrs Anne Sampson

Following a career as an Air Traffic Control Officer in the Royal Air Force, Mrs Sampson studied Education and English at Oxford Brookes University. She joined Dauntsey’s in 2014 having worked at St. Francis Prep School, Pewsey and The Mill School, Potterne. Mrs Sampson has three children, Toby, Holly and Milly, all of whom boarded at The Manor whilst attending Dauntsey’s School. Mrs Sampson enjoys walking her Chocolate Labrador, Terry, and she is a keen reader, cook and lover of sport.

The pupils are looked after by Mrs Anne Sampson, the Housemistress and Mr Pete Guille and Mrs Jo Reynolds, the Assistant Housemaster and Assistant Housemistress, all of whom live in the building. They are supported by four other full time resident tutors, along with Gerry, the Housekeeper, and a small army of other excellent support staff.

Coming back to the Manor at the end of the day feels like coming home. There is so much to do and so many people I like - I've certainly never felt lonely (Third Former)