School Bell
When the School took on the challenge of rebuilding after the 1926 fire, support came in many forms. One symbol of encouragement came in the form of a bell, gifted from Corchester School in England, C. W. Lonsdale’s former school. Lonsdale wrote this in response: "It is many years since love of the Profession was first instilled into [my] mind [while attending] Corchester, a North Country school in very beautiful surroundings, where efficiency was demanded and where genuine sportsmen were developed…. Shawnigan Lake School is in many ways the fruit of that zeal, implanted by Corchester, so that we are all the more grateful to Corchester for the gift of our new School Bell." Corchester School was established in 1882.
Once at Shawnigan, the small bell hung at the entrance to the original Gym, and was rung by the School Prefect on duty to signal each gathering of students.
Our knowledge about this bell has been gleaned from photos on file and first-hand accounts. At some point – possibly between 1936 (the last archival reference to the original bell) and 1955 – a larger bell, which hung on a cast iron yoke, was installed at the west side of the entrance to the Gym. (The Gym was later used as the Assembly Hall.) Some remember a smaller bell – possibly the Corchester bell or the HMS Broadwater bell shown in a 1966 yearbook photo – being rung to signal transition times throughout the day, while the larger bell was used as a “fire bell.” It is not known when the Corchester bell was removed and, sadly, this bell cannot be found.
The School has no records documenting the history of the larger bell. It has been referred to by some as a “train bell,” but we cannot confirm that it came from a train. The larger bell remained in place, and in use, until 2001, when the Assembly Hall was moved to its present location, east of the Main Building. In preparation for the move, the front entry porch was removed, along with the bell – and it, too, has gone missing. If anyone has more information about the larger bell, or the whereabouts of either bell, we would love to hear from you.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
Our knowledge about this bell has been gleaned from photos on file and first-hand accounts. At some point – possibly between 1936 (the last archival reference to the original bell) and 1955 – a larger bell, which hung on a cast iron yoke, was installed at the west side of the entrance to the Gym. (The Gym was later used as the Assembly Hall.) Some remember a smaller bell – possibly the Corchester bell or the HMS Broadwater bell shown in a 1966 yearbook photo – being rung to signal transition times throughout the day, while the larger bell was used as a “fire bell.” It is not known when the Corchester bell was removed and, sadly, this bell cannot be found.
The School has no records documenting the history of the larger bell. It has been referred to by some as a “train bell,” but we cannot confirm that it came from a train. The larger bell remained in place, and in use, until 2001, when the Assembly Hall was moved to its present location, east of the Main Building. In preparation for the move, the front entry porch was removed, along with the bell – and it, too, has gone missing. If anyone has more information about the larger bell, or the whereabouts of either bell, we would love to hear from you.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
