The History of our School
Prince's Mead
1973
Mrs Elizabeth Irving-Bell was appointed as Headmistress. in 1982 the school became a charitable trust. Two years later the house next to the school in Lansdowne Road was purchased and Holme House established to house those children in their early years at school.
1982
Prince's Mead became a charitable trust.
1984
The house next to the school in Lansdowne Road was purchased and Holme House established to house those children in their early years at school.
1987
Mrs Donna Moore took over as Headmistress upon her predecessor’s retirement.
1995
The school purchased a property on the south side of Lansdowne Road.
1999
In need of larger premises to accommodate the expanding school, Prince’s Mead moved to Worthy Park House in in the parish of Martyr Worthy.
Late 1940s
Miss Crystal Holme formed a small school in her home in Christchurch Road, in the center of Winchester. The school was established to educate the children of the staff at Winchester College.
1952
Miss Crystal Holme purchased 36 Edgar Road as the new home for her rapidly expanding school. At the same time, the appeal of the school broadened beyond the close association with the College. Her brother was teaching at a school called King's Mead so Miss Holme decided that her own establishment for younger children would be called Prince's Mead.
2002
Miss Penelope Kirk was appointed as Headmistress and subsequently enjoyed 16 years of service to the school before her retirement.
2018
Mr Peter Thacker was appointed as the school’s first Headmaster. A new extension to Worthy Park House was completed, providing a new dining hall, catering kitchen, and four new classrooms.
2022
Mr Adam King was appointed as Headmaster.
2025
On 1 September 2025, the Boards of Prince's Mead School and King Edward VI School in Southampton merged. A proactive partnership to build on both schools' strengths.
2023
The amphitheatre was built at the rear of Worthy Park House, providing a stunning outdoor setting overlooking the South Downs for school performances. Bob the tortoise also arrived at Prince's Mead in the Summer term from a rescue home.
The History of our Home
Worthy Park House
The Prince’s Mead estate is situated on a site where it is believed houses have stood since Saxon times but in the past three centuries there have been two Worthy Park Houses. The present house was built in 1820 and designed by the revered architect Sir Robert Smirke. Its impressive position with its extensive grounds, overlooking the Itchen Valley is a perfect home for the pupils of the school. Prince’s Mead was founded in 1949 in Winchester and moved to its present location in 1999.
The first house was built in 1722. This was subsequently demolished and a new mansion was constructed on the site in 1820 by Sir Charles Ogle. At the request of his wife Letitia he sold the house and the estate in 1825 to Samuel Wall, a banker from Worcester.
His descendants retained the house until it ceased to be a private residence. The drawing room with its panelled ceiling survives today, as does the large and impressive mirror which dominates one end of the room.
