Keil School
Encyclopedia
Keil School, in Dumbarton, Scotland, opened on 29 November, 1915 as Kintyre Technical College, at Keil House, Southend, near Campbelltown
in Argyll
. After a fire destroyed the original building in Southend it was relocated and opened in Dumbarton as Keil School in 1925. The school took a lease on Helenslee House, a 50-acre (20 ha) site on the banks of the River Clyde
. Helenslee House was originally the property of the shipbuilding family Dennys of Dumbarton.
In 1941, due to the school's high vulnerability during the Clydeside Blitz
, including the destruction of nearby industrial centres such as Clydebank
(only 16 buildings were left undamaged) and conflagrations at the Bowling Oil Refinery and the Tate & Lyle
Sugar Refinery at Greenock
, the school had to be evacuated and relocated in the safer surroundings of Balinakill House, Kintyre
for the duration of the war.
Keil School was an independent secondary school with boarding and day pupils for around 200 pupils. It was an all-boys school up until 1978, when it became co-educational.
Keil School closed in July 2000. At its closure, when it had 54 boarders and 120 day pupils, it was described by The Scotsman
as "One of Scotland's leading fee-paying schools". The site is now being developed as housing.
Campbelltown
Campbelltown can refer to:Places in Australia:*Towns/suburbs:**Campbelltown, New South Wales**Campbelltown, South Australia**Campbell Town, Tasmania*Government areas:**Electoral district of Campbelltown, state electoral district in New South Wales...
in Argyll
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
. After a fire destroyed the original building in Southend it was relocated and opened in Dumbarton as Keil School in 1925. The school took a lease on Helenslee House, a 50-acre (20 ha) site on the banks of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
. Helenslee House was originally the property of the shipbuilding family Dennys of Dumbarton.
In 1941, due to the school's high vulnerability during the Clydeside Blitz
Clydebank Blitz
The Clydebank Blitz refers to two devastating Luftwaffe air raids on the shipbuilding town of Clydebank in Scotland which took place in March 1941.-The air raids:...
, including the destruction of nearby industrial centres such as Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
(only 16 buildings were left undamaged) and conflagrations at the Bowling Oil Refinery and the Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle plc is a British-based multinational agribusiness. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index as of 20 June 2011...
Sugar Refinery at Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, the school had to be evacuated and relocated in the safer surroundings of Balinakill House, Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
for the duration of the war.
Keil School was an independent secondary school with boarding and day pupils for around 200 pupils. It was an all-boys school up until 1978, when it became co-educational.
Keil School closed in July 2000. At its closure, when it had 54 boarders and 120 day pupils, it was described by The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
as "One of Scotland's leading fee-paying schools". The site is now being developed as housing.
Notable former pupils
- Ken W. MacDonaldKen W. MacDonaldKenneth W. MacDonald is a Scottish businessman, best known for his work within the Scottish tartan industry as owner of Houston Traditional Kiltmakers, Paisley. He currently serves as a Governor of the Scottish Tartans Authority....
, Scottish businessman - Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of HamiltonAlexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of HamiltonAlexander Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton and 13th Duke of Brandon , styled Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale from birth till 2010, is a Scottish nobleman and the Premier Peer of Scotland.-Life and education:...