The fields at Bishops have a historical background. Sport has been played on the fields since the school started at Woodlands in 1850 (established the year before at Maynier's Cottage, Protea, Bishopscourt in 1849).

Above is a photograph taken this morning (4th May 2021), across the Avenue Field with the historic Avenue in the background. Previously, the first major field was that parallel to Sandown Road which was called the U15 Field. There were also tennis courts along the cemetery boundary. According to John Gardener's 'Bishops 150' these were removed in the 1940s, and three fields laid out as they are today, the Avenue, the Range and the Cemetery fields respectively. These three fields are used as rugby and cricket fields in winter and summer respectively.  The Avenue Field gets its name from the one running east-west on the Avenue, the Range where the shooting-range used to be, and the Cemetery next to what used to be the Graveyard. 

If you have any stories that you would like to share please contact Paul Murray the school archivist at [email protected]  It could well be worth something to share. 

Andrew Wilson (1957-67, School House) has shared of his experiences.  Andrew arrived to live in the school at the age of around 3 years 6 months in January 1953. His parents were Basil Wilson who was the Estate Manger and his mother Jean (Myth) Wilson who ran the school tuck shop. They lived in The Lodge at the main entrance gates until December 1970.  He can recall learning to drive, at quite a young age, in the school holidays, with one of his parents next to him, to and from the tuck shop.  At some point in time, the speed humps were laid across the avenue. He recalls that this caused much concern, until it was found out by the teachers and parents, that the faster you drove over them, the less the “bump” effect was.  Around 1965, as part of his weekly gardening duties as a border in School House he had to, together with Christopher Duck (1967S) and maybe one or two others, climb into the then much smaller trees and cut them into the shape of umbrellas. If this look is not there today, it is probably due to their lack of attention to detail, Andrew modestly writes. 

We thank Andrew Wilson for sending in important Bishopsiana.  It all adds to Bishops' rich archives.

 Photo of the U 15 Field taken in 1913