Granville | Epsom College

Granville House is named after The 2nd Earl Granville, the third President of the College. It is the grand building that greets you on the right as you pass through the main gates.

The early morning view from the House, as the sun rises, is idyllic – blessing the boys with the full beauty of the diagonally striped and manicured Chapel Lawn, with the main College buildings in the distance over the treetops. Hidden behind Granville are the other two boys’ boarding houses: Forest and Holman.

Chris Bates, Housemaster

I took over as Housemaster of Granville House in 2021 following a tenure as Head of Biology at Epsom College. It is a privilege to assist parents in pointing their sons on the correct path, arming them with the moral compass, skills and confidence to become approachable, pleasant young men who will take on prominent roles in their future communities.

I studied Biology and Education at the University of York followed by a Secondary Sciences PGCE at Cambridge. I have been Assistant Housemaster at Harrow School, London and then Senior Housemaster at Harrow, Hong Kong. I joined Epsom in 2017.

I am joined in Granville by my wife Laura – a veteran of boarding life – and my two children Layla and Jonah, as well as a small cohort of pets. I always seek to lead by example and am involved in multiple facets of College life, be it coaching the 1st XV, developing our aspiring medics, or assisting in CCF and DofE.

I look forward to encouraging the boys in Granville to step out of their comfort zone whether it be performing in Choral Competition, a College Drama production, or beating their friends in cross country. I have a passion for sport and adventure, and I have led numerous student expeditions including to Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp.

Karen Clarke, Matron

I have worked at Epsom College for the past 22 years and love being Matron of Granville House. My favourite thing about the House is the space and the calm atmosphere as you enter – it is wonderfully friendly and welcoming – we are like one big family!

In my spare time, I love gardening and spending as much time as possible with my grandchildren.

Sebastian, Head of House 2024-25

My name is Seb. I first joined the College in 2018 in the Lower School and joined Granville in 2021. I am currently studying Maths, Further Maths, German and Economics which I have thoroughly enjoyed and I plan to study Economics at university.

Through the years I have represented the School across various sports, particularly cross country. I play trumpet and piano and I am also a keen member of the CCF, being in the Navy section.

I am delighted to be appointed Head of House for Granville, a great house with a welcoming and supportive atmosphere and I am really looking forward to the year ahead.

House History

Earl Granville

Gilchrist House opened in 1883 and was named after Dr John Borthwick Gilchrist. Upon his death in 1841, his will established the Gilchrist Educational Trust. Recipients of the scholarship were required to attend London University upon leaving Epsom College. Within that first year, a scholarship holder chose to attend Cambridge instead, leading the Gilchrist Trust to withdraw its involvement.

Consequently, the house was swiftly renamed Granville House, in honour of Earl Granville, President of the College at the time. The house was given the Granville family crest: a chapeau or cap, with an ermine lining, historically worn on a helmet before battle, as well as the Granville family motto Frangas non flectes ( “You may break (me), but you will not bend (me)”), symbolising resilience and steadfastness in adversity.

Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville, became President of Epsom College in 1865 and remained in the role until his death in 1891. A distinguished figure, he served three times as Foreign Secretary and was a close ally of Prime Minister William Gladstone. As a Cabinet member in successive Liberal ministries from the 1830s onwards, Granville was one of the most prominent political figures of his time.

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