Where is Greyfriars?

Everyone knows that Greyfriars is to be found in the village of Friardale, in the County of Kent. However, few know the precise location. It is, therefore, worthwhile to take a moment to pinpoint exactly where the school is to be found.

In order to arrive at some sort of conclusion, one has to look carefully at what we know definitely, and use this information to our best advantage. This poses an immediate problem. Frank Richards, like all authors, and not a few historians, tended to cut his cloth to suit the coat. Thus, we have apparent anomalies in geography.

The only way out of this impasse is to examine the evidence and then try to reach an optimum that satisfies at least the majority of cases.

To start at the beginning. We know, for a fact that Greyfriars is situated in Kent. This at least narrows the field in what one might call the greater geographical location.

Next, we know that Greyfriars is near the sea.

To be generous with Frank Richards and his author’s licence, let us say that the school has to be within five miles of the coast. In fact, we know that the school has to be closer; but, bear with me as to try to narrow the field.

We can easily see from the map that Kent has a fair length of coast line. It is easy to measure. From London in the North West, to the Sussex borders in the South West.

Thus, we have to examine some 200 miles of coast line; or, in other words, 1,000 square miles of Kent to find Greyfriars.

But, before we get too involved with the coast line, let us see just exactly what we have to put where on our map. What towns, villages, local points of importance, and geological features that will help us to “find” Greyfriars.

Firstly, there is, of course, Friardale. A small town, (possibly only a village), some one mile from Greyfriars, and between one and two miles from Courtfield. This latter is, we know, a market town and railway junction.

Next we need to find some cliffs on the coast. A bay with cliffs. There is also a golf course and race track within easy distance. The former has to be close, for Mr. Prout oftentimes murders the game, (when not killing big game!). The latter is somewhat more distant – not too far for Smithy and his cronies to make an illegal outing.

The River Sark is an important landmark. Not only is Greyfriars on its banks, (well, very nearly), but, so too, is Courtfield. And, we know from the Popper Island Barring Out Series that the River has to be navigable, at least as far as Courtfield; one of the methods of assault upon the rebels by the prefects, (as well as a source of supply by Fishy through the offices of Solly Lazarus), was by river barge. Benson’s boat, upon which Wharton travelled, (with a bank robber), was utilised by tourists in the bay. So, we know that the mouth of the river is not too far from the bay.

We also know that there were holiday villas, (alias bungalows), near the coast. Not only was Harry Wharton imprisoned in one, (when Dick the Penman was trying to go straight, and Nosey Compton wanted him back in the fold), but, so too were Smithy and Mr. Quelch when captured by Slim Jim.

These, then are the main geographical considerations. What we now have to do, is to try to put them on the map.

Let us start with the maps available to us. These are four.

First, we have the map published in the Magnet of March 2nd, 1940, (Number 1672). Frank Richards own comment was, “This map is astonishingly like my own idea of the vicinity of Greyfriars School”.

 Unfortunately, it does not give us the cardinal points. Presumably, north is at the top of the map.

Next, in chronological order is Butcher’s Map in his Greyfriars Prospectus. Basically, it is very similar to the Magnet map of 1940. However, it does include, not only the cardinal points, but also the coast line.

I disagree with his positioning of Pegg Bay and the River. In The Popper Island Barring Out, it states that Benson’s Boat was used by the tourists. And it is implied, if not actually stated, that the River Sark runs into the sea very near Pegg Bay. Benson lives in Pegg and hires out his boat for trips along the coast and up the river. I cannot remember the exact reference, so I shall not be didactic! Except to say that it is mentioned in Magnet 1380.

We know that Pegg is a remote spot in terms of access. And, to judge by the line of his river, it appears to open into the sea a good deal too far to the West, and also to have a large headland to sail around before entering the river and making one’s way to Courtfield.

In Magnet 409, (December 1909), there was The Greyfriars School Reference Supplement. This used the ‘map’ later published in the Holiday Annual of 1921. On this map, too, Pegg is shown some distance from the mouth of the River Sark. However, at least the sea journey is comparatively easy, so long as one avoids the cliffs.

If we omit the ‘map’ used in the Billy Bunter Chase Game, (Magnet 9**), which used a stylised layout suitable to a board game with not too much attention being paid to ‘reality’, we are left with the map drawn by Warwick Reynolds and published by Howard Baker Press. Having spoken to Bill Baker about this, he maintained that the first objective was that it should be attractive; (and it most certainly is). Next, although there are mistakes, he considered these unimportant, since the idea was to decorate the study wall, and then to give some idea of the layout of the area. To achieve this, the artist used the maps of yore – especially the 1920 Holiday Annual.

What I particularly like about this map is that I feel that the cardinal points are correctly placed. In other words, turn the map through ninety degrees to the right, and you can see the coast is to the East of the school. A fact that I think is correct.

However, there is one glaring mistake made by, as far as I can see, all the maps – Friardale is placed upstream from Popper Court. It is, actually, downstream. Also, Courtfield and Highcliffe, are upstream of Popper Court. This is confirmed on so many occasions as to be a serious error in all the maps. I wonder if this error has arisen because, as we have seen, the River Sark is navigable, and, therefore, probably tidal for some distance. Thus, depending on the state of the tide and the wind direction, the apparent relation of places will appear to alter. Even so, the error remains.

Thus, starting from the sea, we should have Friardale, Greyfriars, Popper Island, Popper Court, The Three Fishers Inn, (Magnet 1423), then Courtfield, and beyond, and furthermost up-stream, Highcliffe.

We know from several references, that Highcliffe can be reached from Greyfriars without going through Courtfield. Thus, it follows that the River Sark has a considerable bend in it somewhere close to, and above, Greyfriars. After all, who heard of a schoolboy going any distance further than he had to? If the river was straight, surely going to Highcliffe would have meant the delightful excuse to stop at the Bun Shop for a ginger beer and cake! Not to be missed!

We know that the river is on your right, going from Courtfield to Greyfriars; and that Popper Court is on your left, (Magnet 1446 & 1528), and that it is necessary to cross the Sark to get from Greyfriars to Pegg.

We know, too, that the sea is to your left, going from Greyfriars to Hawkscliff, (Magnet 1452). Thus, Hawkscliff has to be to the East or South of Greyfriars depending on which coast of Kent Greyfriars is to be found. Greyfriars has to be to the West of the river, (i.e. on its left bank). Courtfield, of course, straddles the river, (pace Courtfield Bridge).

However, the problem is reduced as soon as we realise that Greyfriars cannot be on the North Coast of the county, for, although Frank Richards often makes mention of North Sea Gales’, we can, I think, allow their effect to be felt in the English Channel. We further know that the sea is to the East of Greyfriars. Another fact against the North coast is the fact that Sir William Byrd lives near the North Foreland, and that is understood to be some distance from Greyfriars.

This reduces the length of coast line to examine to 70 miles; and the area to search to 350 square miles.

Already, we seem to be making progress.

Friardale, the nearby village has a branch railway line that connects with Courtfield, the adjacent market town.

The next major clue is the presence nearby of a river.

We can also narrow the field by considering the comparative nearness of towns like Ashford and Canterbury. In Magnet 1546 we find that Canterbury and Dover are in opposite directions from Lantham. The journey from Greyfriars to Folkestone, (Magnet 414), takes two hours, and a further half hour from Lantham to Greyfriars.

Margate is within easy reach by rail, since the Friars visited the resort on Half Holiday trips; and has been visited, more than once, for day trips by our friends in the Remove.

To start to try to pinpoint Greyfriars, let us start at Ashford. In Magnet 1253, it is stated that this town “is a good 30 miles from Greyfriars”. It is, however, only one hour by train. A fact we know from when Harry Wharton was to have made the journey to meet his Uncle, Colonel Wharton, for tea. The latter was, you will remember, about to leave for a secret mission abroad. The preference of football to family commitments led to the “Downfall Series” of Magnets 879-888.

If we draw a circle of radius thirty miles from Ashford, we find the only part of England remaining near the coast and within the correct distance is a tiny area near the North Foreland. No Railway. No River. No Greyfriars!

However, we must remember that railways do not always go in straight lines. Starting at Ashford, we find that if we follow the main line for the required thirty miles, we arrive at a small town, (or village). Could this be Lantham? Whatever the map calls the place is unimportant, since it is obvious that Frank Richards made much effort to be as devious as possible. Perhaps he wanted the privacy of the school maintained.

This suits our requirements. It has a railway station; and is actually a railway junction. Exactly what we are seeking.

Next, we can see that it is a mere one and a half miles from the coast. To reach the sea, by a direct route, go almost due east. One has to traverse a small wood, on the other side of which is immediately found an ancient cross and St. Augustine’s Well. Once on the shore, we can see, only a few hundred yards to our south, the traditional landing place of, not only the Saxons, but also St. Augustine, (597).

We are on the outskirts of Ramsgate. This is, surely too large a town for Courtfield. Not only this fact, but also, the fact that the Removites have, on many occasions, visited Ramsgate, eliminates the town from the search.

However, the area seems promising. What else can we find that might suit? Still on the shore, to the South, beyond Saxons’ Landing, is the mouth of a river. Not only is it navigable, but, within a short distance of its mouth is a small town. Slightly further up stream is another, larger, town.

Behind the latter, we find The Monks” Wall. Another monastic reference point, or clue, is The Abbot’s Wall, just to the South of Lantham, (or perhaps Courtfield). Don’t forget that Mr. Quelch liked to take the Remove out for form walks – with archaeology as the scholarly reason for the pursuit of the ‘healthy outdoors’.

Close to Greyfriars itself, we find such ruins as Sark Abbey. Which of these ruins shown on the map are referred to in the Magnet?

However, we have wandered from the point and have more than somewhat ‘jumped the gun’. If this railway station is, indeed, Lanthham, we need to go no more than ten miles to find ourselves at Greyfriars.

A further clue is the presence on the map, at map reference 273601, of Hoaden House. This is, presumably, the inspiration for Hoad House met in Magnet 1335. However, Hoad is in Oxfordshire.

Twelve miles from ‘Lantham’, we find ‘Friardale’. By taking a short cut over the level crossing shown on the Ordnance Survey Map the distance is, indeed, just about ten miles. On the way there, there is the long hill mentioned running along the boundary of Lantham Place. Here, too, is the wooded area. The house seems to have gone. But, that is not surprising, since we know that Squire Luscombe now lives abroad. The land is bound to be more valuable than a decrepit ancestral pile – even if there are rich tenants like Captain Vernon to take a lease on the place.

This is as far as the cogitations have gone to date. But, from the initial discoveries, we seem to be in the right area to place the Old School. 

Peter McCall . First published in The Friars Chronicles, 1984-1985