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News > From the Archives > Tedworth House

Tedworth House

Tedworth House, the largest house and named after the final home of our Founder and first Headmistress, Olive Willis.
Under construction
Under construction

Tedworth House was founded in 1979 and situated in the four- storey block known as South, built in 1930/1. The four storeys were known respectively (from the ground floor) as Bottom South, Middle South, Top South and Top Top South.
 
In late 1961 Miss Willis moved from Regent’s Park to 38 Tedworth Square in Chelsea.  She and her sister Dorothy, who had been very much involved with Downe House all her life, shared the house, and their niece, Elizabeth Godfrey, lived close by.  Miss Willis had suffered a number of heart attacks and as a result became increasingly restricted – Dorothy nursed her and had to ration the number of visitors. Miss Willis’ interest in others did not diminish one bit as she declined; remembering details in the lives of others, she would ask how events had gone, of mutual friends and of the wellbeing of her visitors. She passed away in the early morning of March 11 1964.  Her wish was to be cremated and her ashes are buried here in the Memorial Garden, beside those of other members of staff.
 
TEDWORTH HOUSE HOUSEMISTRESSES
 
1979 - 1982                 Mrs Barbara Sidebottom
1982 - 1985                 Mrs Penny Richardson-White
1985 - 1997                 Mrs Alison Gwatkin
1997 - 2014                 Mrs Wendy Nurser
2014 - 2021                 Mrs Sarah Barnard

2021                             Annabel Brown
 
 
 

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Development & External Relations Office

Downe House

Cold Ash, Thatcham

Berkshire, RG18 9JJ

dhsociety@downehouse.net

+44 (0)1635 204797 

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