Sister Gregory Kirkus
Sister Gregory Kirkus


Sister Gregory Kirkus only lived in Bratton for some five years, but her writings show that she enjoyed her time and loved the place. She came to Bratton in 1941 as part of the teaching staff with the pupils of St Mary’s School, Hampstead. They had been evacuated from London after the retreat from Dunkirk and had passed a difficult year moving from one temporary accommodation to another. Sir Horace Seymour, the owner of Bratton House, was in London working in the Foreign Office, before going to China in 1942 as Ambassador and he was willing to make Bratton House available to the school.

Though Bratton House is large, it was filled to overflowing with some 60 pupils. Almost every room had to serve two functions, as a teaching room and as a dormitory. Sister Kirkus spent every night sleeping on a couch while another sister, Sister Teresita, slept in a box room which also kept Sir Horace’s plumed ambassadorial hat. More children joined the school and some had to be looked after by Bratton residents. Also, some children of the village joined classes in the school. The Seymours also owned Luccombe Mill and moved their belongings there, but soon the increased numbers of pupils meant that it became an outpost of the school. When one of the swans at the Mill electrocuted itself on some wiring, it became the source of some excellent meals, meat being in short supply.

Sister Kirkus’s writing is at its most atmospherical when she describes their walks and bicycle rides along the lanes and paths around Bratton, often carrying a ladder to collect blackberries and damsons. Most of the pupils had to stay in Bratton during the school holidays, as London was too dangerous a place. The village helped to entertain the children by arranging talks on subjects as diverse as spotting wildlife and poetry. Various forms of social gatherings also took place with which the school participated, such as plays, sports days, rambles, and picnics.

But even in a place as far away from danger as Bratton, the War entered. Sister Kirkus’ brother was killed, just after being award a DFC, which was collected from King George VI by their parents. At the end of the War, it was decided to create a new school and the Bratton School moved to Coombe House in Shaftsbury. In 1963, Sister Gregory became its headmistress. In later life, she became a renowned archivist and historian. She died at the age of 96 in 2007




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Bratton History Association.

The Bratton History Association aims to provide all those curious about local history with an opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and discover more about the history of Bratton and Wiltshire. Activities include monthly meetings, talks by professional historians, visits to places of interest to historians, and our own local history project.

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