Old St Leonard’s Hall is a low-carbon retrofit of a disused Victorian Sunday School in Exeter and is our Home and Office.

THE HISTORY OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

The Western Morning News. Monday 26th August 1889 p3.

On Saturday afternoon Master FH Sheldon laid the foundation stone of the memorial schools to be erected in St.Leonards to the memory of Mr GW Petter, his grandfather.

A service was first held in the parish church where an address was delivered by Canon Atherton. He remarked that they gathered together on a very interesting occasion, but for an important end for there was nothing that added so much to the strength of a parish as the building of parochial schools, and there was nothing that left such a vast responsibility upon a congregation as planting schools in their midst for the education of the young.

On the conclusion of the service the congregation proceeded to the site of the new schools. Among those present were the Rev. JG Geare, Captain Halford-Thompson, Messrs. CTK Roberts, H Mitchelmore, Cole, Addison, Nudge, EM Vinicombe and a large number of ladies.

The Rector (the Rev J F Sheldon) said several collects suitable to the occasion, and a hymn having been sung these ceremony of laying the stone was performed by Master Sheldon, age 2 years and eight months. The rector stated that these schools would be used as Sunday schools not as day schools. Parochial meetings would also be held there, and he hoped it would be a centre of great good in their parish.

The stone, which was carved by Mr Collard of Blackboy Road bore the following inscriptions:-“In loving memory of George William Petter, Esq., late patron of the living of St. Leonards Exeter, erected by his affectionate family. This stone was laid by his grandson, Frederick Howard Sheldon, August 24th 1889.”

The trowel used was a silver one, supplied by Mr FT Dupree of 17 and 18 High Street Exeter, and presented by the architect, Mr FW Petter of Barnstable.

The inscription engraved on it was as follows quotation: “St. Leonards Exeter. This trowel was used by Frederick Howard Sheldon on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of the memorial schools 24th August 1889.”

The schools will consist of three large rooms - for boys, girls, and infants - with the classrooms attached. The building is expected to be completed by November next according to the terms made with the contractor (Mr Smale of the Friars).

In the 1970’s the St. Leonards hall was donated to the Church and since then the spaces were used for a range of local activities, but fell in disuse in 2010.

In 20XX was sold to a private developer that submitted an application for the change of use to 4 residential units.

We bought the the property in 2022

THE CHANGE

We worked with the local neighbours to establish a use for the hall….

SUSTAINBILITY