Old Ardinian History
1848 Society of SS. Mary and Nicholas founded at Shoreham by Nathanial Woodard
1858 St. Saviour’s School opened at New Shoreham
1864 Foundation stone laid at Ardingly and building started
1868 School House block completed with room for 200 boys
1871 First OA Cricket Club formed at Clapham
1876 Completion of swimming pool
1877 Construction of the Terrace and South Quadrangle
1879 Old Ardinians Dinner Committee formed
1885 Fellows Garden and West Quadrangle constructed
1897 First theatre stage built in ‘The Under’
1902 Formation of the Cadet Corps
1906 Old Boys Association formed. (Renamed the OA Society in 1927)
1920 Rugby Football introduced
1921 The Consecration of the Ardingly College Lodge No. 4410 by the Grand Secretary
1925 The Mission acquires premises in Poplar
1934 Inauguration of OA Cricket Week at school
1942 The Crest and Coat of Arms presented to the School by the Society
1954 The Friends of Ardingly founded
1958 School Centenary celebrated with visits by the Queen and the Prime Minister
1964 Gymnasium completed
1967 Day Boys introduced into Junior House
1972 Introduction of VIth Form day girls
1977 Day Boys introduced in Senior School
1986 Junior School becomes co-educational
1988 Woodard, the Upper Sixth Form house opens
1991 Indoor Swimming Pool completed
School Headmasters
A Mertens 1858 - 1894
F K Hilton 1894 - 1904
H A Rhodes 1904 - 1911
Marchant Pearson 1911 - 1914
T E Wilson 1914 - 1932
E C Crosse 1933 - 1946
George Snow 1946 - 1961
Christopher Bulteel 1961 - 1980
James Flecker 1980 - 1998
John Franklin 1998 - 2007
Peter Green 2007 to present