Our History

The History of Tockington Manor School

Tockington Manor is a beautiful Grade 2 listed property that has been home to our much-loved Tockington Manor School since 1947. The three storey stone building itself was largely constructed around 1712 although Tockington Manor is steeped in history with William Fitz Osburn, Earl of Hereford, being the first recorded owner. It became crown property after he was killed in battle in 1070, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book.

An arboretum, a hospital and a private dwelling

For the first 750 years or so if its life the Manor was used as a home by its various owners and in 1836 it is thought the arboretum was planted. A sales description of the estate, probably drawn up in the 19th century, notes the following features: a rosary, a rookery, brewhouses, a rustic summerhouse, a well-designed shrubbery and walks, store and farmhouses, dairy, orchard, and a ‘walled fruit and very early vegetable garden unsurpassed in the country for productiveness’.

Use during the World Wars

It was voluntarily converted into a hospital for the sick and wounded during the First World War and was used by the R.A.F. in the Second World War. Towards the end of the war, once the threat of air raids was over, the house was returned to the Salmon family who owned it. They sold the estate in 1946.

Significance to the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust

In 1941, a small engineering design team from the Bristol Aeroplane Company carried out preliminary design work on the Bristol Theseus engine, right here at Tockington Manor. This was done under the leadership of Roy Fedden, whose house in Bristol had been destroyed in a bombing raid in 1940, forcing him to move to Tockington, where he continued his work. In December 1946, a Theseus was the world’s first propeller gas turbine to pass the demanding 100 hour type test.

A love affair with cricket

It is no coincidence that cricket is a well-loved sport at Tockington and that many of our Old Tockingtonians have gone on to great things playing the game. The buyer of Tockington Manor in 1946 was Major Gordon Tovey, a first-class English cricketer, who initially established TMS as an Independent Boarding Preparatory School for Boys (aged 7-13).   

School founder, Major Gordon Tovey

Major Gordon Tovey was the first in a long line of great cricketers at Tockington. Many of our former pupils go on to live their passion, like Logan Bowden who plays for Gloucestershire County Cricket.

Old Tockingtonians

Proudly Supporting Local Cricket

We are very proud to sponsor both Gloucestershire County Cricket and Thornbury Cricket Club. Our pupils benefit from the expertise of both teams and players and enjoy supporting their teams.

TMS Community

Keeping it in the family

In 1975, Tovey left the Headship of the School in the capable hands of his friend, Keith Chivers, whose family had long been associated with Tockington. Shortly after, Gordon’s son, Richard Tovey became Headmaster at the young age of 25, supported by his wife Jane. Two years later, girls were welcomed into the school as it became co-ed and not long after, the Pre-Prep was opened for 4-7 year olds, and following that, the Nursery.

A new era

In 2013, having run the school for 38 years, Tovey handed the reins to only the fourth Headmaster in TMS’s history, Stephen Symonds. In just over a decade, the school has gone from strength to strength, retaining its proud traditions and warm, nurturing feel, but growing and developing to produce outstanding young adults with excellent prospects. There are currently around 250 children attending the School and Nursery.

A confident and exciting future

Tockington Manor School and Nursery announced in November 2023 that it would become a member of the Clifton College Education Group. Having had many ties with the prestigious school, Clifton College, over the years (including the Toveys, who were educated there) the charitable merger creates strength, stability and opportunity. We are looking forward to an exciting period of growth as part of the CCEG.