Our History
St Margaret’s Hampstead may not be the oldest school in the area, but it is certainly one of the oldest and has a fascinating history. Founded in 1884, it began life as one of many small, privately run schools that dotted the leafy streets of Hampstead, North London. A number of these were owned and run by unmarried women, and they often only took a handful of pupils. A great many only lasted a decade or two, closing when owners retired or passed away.
Happily, St Margaret’s not only survived, but it flourished. Today, it proudly continues its legacy in its fifth home under its fourteenth Head and has not a handful of pupils, but 160.
Our founder
Born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1850, Elizabeth Isabella Tulloch was the second child (of 10) of a reverend. After working as a governess, as many middle-class ladies did at that time, she opened this school in a new building called Chester House in West Hampstead.
As proprietor and principal, Elizabeth led St Margaret’s for an impressive 44 years, earning praise in her final year at the school from the Board of Education Inspectors as “a women of culture and ideals to whom the school is much indebted for all her educational work”.
In 1920, Hilda Jean Copinger joined the school as joint principal, in charge of boarding and the teaching of domestic science. On Elizabeth’s retirement, in 1928, Hilda took over the school with a new co-principal, Margaret Macrae.
How St Margaret’s Hampstead got its name
The school has not always been known as St Margaret’s Hampstead, though. Like many Victorian private schools, it was simply named after its owner, so it was known as “Miss Tulloch’s” originally.
However, in 1898, a newspaper advertisement announced that Miss Tulloch would be moving the school to its second home – a house called St Margaret’s in Oak Hill Park in Barnet. While the school didn’t stay in that location permanently, the name appears to have stuck and travelled back with it to Hampstead.
In 1915, years after it had been renamed, former pupil and Rebecca author Daphne du Maurier recalled it still being affectionately known as, “Miss Tulloch’s School”. In recent years, Hampstead has been added to the end of the name to differentiate it from the numerous St Margaret’s in London and the surrounding areas.
Our school today
While St Margaret’s Hampstead is no longer a proprietorial school, we feel it has retained what we imagine was the charming, homely feel it once had when it was run by a former governess with a handful of children. It is still considered small compared to most London schools and the parents, staff and girls very much consider us one big family in a welcoming house in the heart of leafy Hampstead.
Testimonials
“Cosy, nurturing, rounded and grounded education delivered in a happy family atmosphere’’
Explore the history at St Margaret’s
We invite you to visit St Margaret's Hampstead, and experience our rich history firsthand.