Students going home at the beginning of the Christmas holidays
A joyous and slightly chaotic moment at Ardingly College, captured in 1926, as boarding school boys eagerly prepare to head home for the Christmas break. Perched atop a towering stack of battered suitcases on a horse-drawn cart, the boys wave their caps with infectious excitement. Their smiles say it all—freedom, home, and holiday cheer await.
This was a time when boarding schools were still deeply traditional, and horse-drawn transport was a practical solution in rural England. The image is a vivid reflection of early 20th-century student life—strict during term time, yet filled with camaraderie and bursts of carefree spirit when school let out.
The Gothic Revival buildings in the background, typical of English public schools of the era, reinforce the historical setting, just a few years before motor vehicles would begin to replace carts like this one.
Do you have memories or family stories from the days of boarding school life? Share your own photos or anecdotes on OldPik.com and help bring these moments back to life.
SEO Tags:
boarding school England 1920s, vintage school life UK, Ardingly College history, Christmas holidays 1926, boys on horse cart photo, early 20th century student traditions, nostalgic Christmas travel UK, West Sussex school archives, British boarding school traditions, historic UK education photos
This was a time when boarding schools were still deeply traditional, and horse-drawn transport was a practical solution in rural England. The image is a vivid reflection of early 20th-century student life—strict during term time, yet filled with camaraderie and bursts of carefree spirit when school let out.
The Gothic Revival buildings in the background, typical of English public schools of the era, reinforce the historical setting, just a few years before motor vehicles would begin to replace carts like this one.
Do you have memories or family stories from the days of boarding school life? Share your own photos or anecdotes on OldPik.com and help bring these moments back to life.
SEO Tags:
boarding school England 1920s, vintage school life UK, Ardingly College history, Christmas holidays 1926, boys on horse cart photo, early 20th century student traditions, nostalgic Christmas travel UK, West Sussex school archives, British boarding school traditions, historic UK education photos
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Contributed by OldPik on January 6, 2025
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