In 2025, Lady Boswell’s Church of England Primary School has been proud to mark an extraordinary milestone in its distinguished history — 350 years since its foundation in 1675.  Reputed to be the oldest primary school in the country, Lady Boswell’s has been at the heart of education in Sevenoaks for generations.

Founded by Lady Margaret Boswell, who established a charitable trust prior to her death, the School began with just one master and fifteen ‘poor scholars’ from across the town. Lessons are believed to have taken place in the master’s own home. The original school house, built in1818, still stands on London Road in Sevenoaks, a lasting testament to the School’s rich heritage.  In1972 Lady Boswell’s relocated to its current premises in Plymouth Drive, where it continues to thrive and serve the local community.

Lady Margaret Boswell 1604-1692

The world in which Margaret Bosville, as she was born and lived was an exciting one! Queen Elizabeth I was at the end of her magnificent and turbulent reign. It was an era of exploration, with sailors travelling to the four corners of the globe, Shakespeare alive and the vitality of our nation apparent through music, literature and architecture as we moved away from the narrow ideas of medieval times. Sevenoaks was a small town back then and was made up of large estates – where houses like Lady Margaret’s home, Bradbourne House (situated where Bradbourne Lakes now exist), owned large portions of the land and farms, with poorer members of the community housed upon them. The Bosvilles were connected with the Court in London and were influential amongst royalty and lawmakers. Queen Elizabeth I had visited Bradbourne House on a number of occasions and, apparently, liked the Bosville family very much!

Margaret Bosville was baptised at St. Nicholas Church, just like many of our school community, and the Church were proud of their connections with the influential family. She spent her younger years within the estate, showing care and devotion to her family and her Church. At the age of 34 (old by the standards of the day!) she married William Boswell who was an important diplomat. They were married here, at St Nicholas Church in Sevenoaks, and it was reputed to be the most exciting social event of the year! They lived between London and Sevenoaks where they loved to relax and enjoy the countryside with their son, James, who tragically died in childhood. William Boswell was knighted by King Charles I and so Margaret Boswell became Lady Margaret Boswell. The couple lived in The Hague for a period, returning to Sevenoaks when Lady Margaret’s father and brother died. During this time, she also acquired her own land in Essex. At the time, the King and his Parliament could not have dreamed of voting for public money to use in schools, so education was always within the province of the Church and reserved for the wealthy in society.

In 1675, Lady Margaret settled her estate in Essex to trust. The trust read:

£30 per year to a schoolmaster to in some convenient place keep an English School and diligently teach the Church of England values, Reading of the English tongue and in writing and casting of accounts.

What was special was that this gift, was only to be spent on “the fifteen of the poorest children in the parish” with particular respect to “poor widows” who had lived upon the estate for a long time. Money was also committed to ensuring the children had training in “honest trades” so that they could obtain good employment – possibly the first ever apprenticeship scheme.

Lady Margaret’s trust was remarkable! It meant that, for the first time, education in Sevenoaks was available for all and not just those that could pay to go to Sevenoaks School. Lady Margaret’s generosity to provide educational opportunities for all put the children of Sevenoaks 200 years ahead of the rest of the country, with state education not readily available until the 1800s. At the time, her trust gave hundreds of children the opportunity to learn and, as a result, work and avoid poverty and hardship. The foresight to shape and use her wealth and privilege for the good of others, and the extraordinary way she instructed her trust, generated a legacy that many people of Sevenoaks have benefitted from in some way.  Many people whose families have been in the town for generations, will have distant relatives that were able to work their way out of poverty, thanks to Lady Boswell and her trust.

Lady Margaret Boswell died, at the age of 88, having had the opportunity to see the beginnings of the impact of her trust. A memorial to Lady Margaret Boswell stands in St Nic’s Church where symbols of the family crest are recognisable in our own school badge. Our school values, and the biblical story that underpins our vision (Luke 10: 25-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan) all stem from our founder and Lady Boswell's children learn that these strong foundations are what has meant that the school has thrived for such a momentous length of time. We are very proud to be reputed as the oldest state primary school in the country: Lady Boswell’s School – endowed 1675. Our thanks to the PTA members from 1975, and local journalist and author, Bob Ogley, for providing the school with such an excellent source of information on Lady Boswell, through the book produced on the school’s 300^th Anniversary celebration.

 

In May, 2025, to honour this historic anniversary, the School welcomed back former pupils and staff for a special day of celebration. Visitors were treated to guided tours of the School and an exhibition showcasing a remarkable collection of historical artefacts and photographs. Highlights included Victorian-era photographs, school ledgers dating from 1864 to 2002, and logbooks written by former Headteachers — offering a fascinating glimpse into the life of the School across the centuries.

In preparation for this event, current pupils immersed themselves in the School’s history, exploring the life and legacy of Lady Margaret Boswell and examining how education has evolved over the past three and a half centuries. The afternoon culminated in a special presentation by the children, who proudly shared their research with parents and guests. The day concluded with a joyful rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ and a shared moment of community as everyone enjoyed a slice of birthday cake.

 

 

To bring this milestone year to a close, in October, the School held a Service of Thanksgiving at Rochester Cathedral with children, staff, governors, parents and alumni in attendance.  The congregation were delighted to welcome the school’s principal guest, His Majesty’s Representative, The Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, The Lady Colgrain. The service was presided over and led by The Rt. Rev’d Simon Burton-Jones, Bishop of Tonbridge and The Rev’d Canon Chris Dench, and provided a moving opportunity to acknowledge and give thanks for the School’s rich past, vibrant present, and promising future.

The Rev’d Angus MacLeay, speaking on behalf of the Lady Margaret Boswell Trust, reflected on the remarkable vision of the School’s founder, Lady Margaret Boswell, and the lasting importance of her legacy.

The service was beautifully highlighted by the children’s singing, prayers, readings, and their infectious enthusiasm, all of which made for a truly joyful and memorable celebration.

The 350th anniversary of Lady Boswell’s School not only honours its rich past but also celebrates its vibrant present and promising future.

To find out more about our history and our 350th anniversary celebrations, click here.