History
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Founded in 1881 by Francis Holland, Canon of Canterbury Cathedral and Chaplain to Queen Victoria and Edward VII, the school was really the brainchild of his wife, Sibylla Holland (née Lyall).
A house was leased at 80 Coleshill Street, later re-named Eaton Terrace, and on March 1st 1881, at 12.15pm the school, subsequently known as Graham Street School, opened its doors. Due to expanding numbers, it re-located to its present site in October of 1884.
As early as 1882 girls were prepared for the Cambridge Local Examinations and in 1884 a kindergarten was introduced for both girls and boys. The school archive still has the application forms for both Laurence Olivier and Tony Benn!
Threatened with closure throughout its history it has not only survived, but gone from strength to strength. Many traditions live on such as the School’s charitable work, the School Birthday on March 1st and the Old Girls’ Society.
From September 2024, Francis Holland Junior School (which was based at Francis Holland School, Sloane Square in Graham Terrace) relocated to 15 Manresa Road, SW3 6NB and become Francis Holland Preparatory School for girls aged 4-11.
Our new home is steeped in history and recognised locally as the former Chelsea Library.
The Public Libraries Act of 1850 and subsequent amending legislation permitted local authorities to provide a library service if a majority of local ratepayers voted for it. At Chelsea a brisk campaign initiated by Benjamin William Findon and supported by the local press had seen the acts adopted a month earlier and when the Library Commissioners sought to build an adequate central library the Earl of Cadogan donated the freehold site in Manresa Road together with £350 towards the purchase of technical books.
15 Manresa Road was designed by the architect John McKean Brydon and opened as Chelsea Library in 1890. Chelsea was amongst the earliest libraries to provide a separate room for children. A boys’ room was included in Chelsea Library and opened each evening between 6 and 9pm. In 1905 this became a fully-fledged children’s library with space for homework, while talks and lantern lectures were also given.
During and air-raid on the evening of 26th September 1940 Chelsea Library was badly damaged by fire, the reference library bookstore suffering in particular. Over 2000 books were destroyed and 10,000 badly damaged. Although temporary accommodation was quickly found in the neighbouring Polytechnic building, the reference and children’s libraries did not re-open until 1949 and it was 1951 before the library was fully operational again. The restored Chelsea reference library re-opened on 2nd May 1949.
When Chelsea Library moved to larger premises in Chelsea Old Town Hall on the King’s Road in 1978, the building (which was Grade II listed in 1969), was taken over by Chelsea College and became the Chelsea College Library. In 1985 the college merged with nearby Queen Elizabeth College and soon thereafter the merged college was itself amalgamated into King’s College London. The building was vacated by King’s College London in 1999.
In 2009 it housed The Hampshire School Chelsea, which was founded in 1928 by visionary artist and teacher, June Hampshire, and started as a dance school. After serving in the WAAF in World War II, her renowned dance school expanded to include an academic curriculum prior to moving to 15 Manresa Road. The Hampshire School Chelsea subsequently closed in July 2024 prior to the opening of Francis Holland Preparatory School in the same building in September 2024.
This magnificent building is now home to Francis Holland Preparatory School offering outstanding education for girls aged 4-11.
