Stonyhurst College, Independent Catholic boarding school in Clitheroe, England
Stonyhurst College is a Catholic boarding school near Clitheroe in Lancashire, set on an expansive estate beside the River Hodder. The buildings are made of stone and show large windows with detailed facades that reflect different periods of construction.
Jesuits founded the institution in 1593 in France, when Catholic education was forbidden in England. It returned to England in 1794 and moved to the estate gifted by an established local family.
The school takes its name from the medieval noble family who once lived here, and their coat of arms remains visible today. On feast days, students and staff wear academic robes that recall the centuries-old tradition of Jesuit education.
Guided tours of the grounds and buildings are offered during summer months and should be booked in advance. The location is rural, so traveling by car is easiest, though rail connections to Preston exist.
The observatory on the grounds has provided unbroken daily temperature measurements since 1838, one of the longest such records worldwide. Visitors can see the old weather station, where some historic instruments are still kept.
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