Our historic setting
Bringing history to life our site has strong roots which are exciting to explore and discover.
Our history
Historic roots
The Downs school moved to the other side of the Clifton Suspension Bridge to its current home (which was originally part of the Tyntesfield estate) in 1927. The headmaster at that time, Wilfred Harrison said it was to escape the “incessant roar of traffic” and “nerve-racking turmoil of the city”. The peace of our site is something we still treasure nearly 100 years on.
Did you know?
Our whole site was originally part of the Tyntesfield estate.
An epic past
Every morsel of history running through our site is significant to us, and there’s quite a bit. Children can trace the building’s origins all the way back to the reign of Henry VIII, or marvel at the 17th Century fireplace in our Jacobean front hall. From the Victorian era, the Gibbs’ family coat of arms makes up part of our school crest.
