The School was previously the dower-house of Locko, located in Church Street with grounds extending to Chapel Street and to Hall Dyke. In 1854 the Rev. T. Gascoigne opened this boarding school, to be known as 'Spondon House School for the sons of Gentlemen'. None of the students were then allowed to mix with the more humble villagers. All this changed when the Rev. Edward Priestland came to the school in 1874. He liked all people and opened the gates of the school and its cricket pitch to anyone who wished to play. This private school was converted to an emergency convalescent hospital in the first World War, and afterwards became the state-supported Spondon House Central School (information from Kenneth Porter's 'A Village Remembered' website)