Morris Dancing and crawling college boys

Monday, 26 September 2011 18:01

The normal sights and sounds of Windsor and Eton beside the River Thames were in evidence over the weekend

But on Saturday we found some more unusual sights ......

On the Windsor side of Windsor Bridge, the Morris Dancers were attracting a crowd, not surprisingly, as they were very good.

Morris Dancers

I had been driven through Eton back in the winter and wanted to go and have a look at the "village" which grew up around Eton College. We forget that the College was originally founded for 70 "poor boys" by Henry VI.

Founders statue

Founded in 1441, Henry named it "The King's College of our Lady of Eton beside Wyndsor". The "poor boys" would then go on to King's College Cambridge, also founded by Henry at about the same time. King's Scholars still exist - a form of scholarship to the College

The chapel, intended by Henry to have the longest nave in Europe, is only about half the size he intended, as the construction was halted when he was deposed and succeeded by Edward VI in 1461. Still, it is a magnificent building, hardly a chapel!

Eton Chapel

Other buildings that comprise this now top "Public School" include - 

The Library

The Luptons Tower

The Long Walk

Courtyard and canon

Our visit coincided with the Summer Fair and it seemed rather incongruous to see the boys in Eton uniform of tail coats, collar-less shirts and sometimes bow ties (a privilege reserved for Prefects) selling cakes, burgers, pancakes, second hand clothes, and other items from the street stalls.

It was bizarre to see them crawling for charity too

I suppose underneath all the appearance of affluence and influence they are normal lads, even if the list of Old Etonians reads a little like "Who's Who".

Apparently the village grew up to "serve" the college - now it is full of little shops, restaurants and the odd gift shop. Coutts Bank rubs shoulders with classic Tailors and royal connections are still there, if you look.

Victoria Regina post box

The pharmacy that is "by Royal Appointment"

To read more about Eton College, its traditions and practices follow this link.