A House with a History
Built in the 1700's for Jonathan Midgley, Attorney, Alderman and three times Mayor of Beverley, Norwood House passed to the Beverley family through Mary Beverley (Nee Midgley) and it remained in this family's possession until 1833.
In 1834 Norwood House was sold to Henry Broadley, MP for the East Riding and remained used by his family until his death in 1851, after which time the property was rented to various tenants.
Norwood House and its 12 acres of gardens became vacant in 1906 and was purchased from the Broadley family, by the East Riding County Council, for the use of a school in 1907.
Norwood House was opened as Beverley High School on the 23rd September 1908.
Beverley High School
Beverley High School for girls opened in 1908 with Norwood House forming a major part of the school's accommodation. It was used as classrooms , staff living accommodation, boarding pupil's dormitories, library, kitchen and school dining room. The usage continued, with some modifications (boarding ceased in the early 1930's, although some staff members continued to live in Norwood House until late 70's) and the library continued to be used by the school until the autumn of the year 2000 when that function transferred to the new resource centre which had been built between Norwood House and the main school building.
For some years the Beverley High School Association ("Old Girls") have been very concerned about the state of the building which, although it has been maintained to allow its use as part of the High School, was gradually deteriorating as clearly the school had insufficient funds for any but the most essential and basic maintenance.. Much effort was put into contacting various relevant agencies but little could be done until the house reverted to the care of East Riding of Yorkshire County Council.
Beverley High School Association
Beverley High School Association formed a Norwood House sub-committee and meetings were held to which various interested parties were invite, including the Member of Parliament for Beverley, James Cran, local historians, councillors, and members of the Beverley Civic Society. Representations were also made to the Minister of Culture and the response was very positive.
An initial meeting was held with the Chief Executive of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and several of his colleagues which proved to be sufficiently encouraging to take the matter further.
It was decided to take legal advice, to form a company Limited by Guarantee to be known as Norwood House Beverley Limited. This company was registered at Companies House on 24th November 2000, registration number 4113706.
Tenants of Norwood House
| 1795-1834 | William Beverley (who's Father was related to George |
| Washington, first president of the United States of America, by marriage) J.P., Mayor of Beverley and Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding 1806-1807 | |
| 1834 - 1838 | Sold to Henry Broadley, MP for the East Riding |
| 1838 - 1851 | Sophia Broadley, Sister to Henry |
| 1851 - 1867 | Charles Reynard (second son of the Reynards of |
| Sunderlandwick Hall, Driffield), Landowner and Gentleman | |
| 1867 - 1879 | William Young, Corn Merchant of Bedale, North Yorkshire |
| 1879 - 1889 | Captain Edward Hill, Merchant and Ship Owner |
| 1889 - 1904 | Charles Newbald, Shipping Manager for Wilson Shipping Co. |
| 1905 - 1906 | Countess of Ravensworth (of Denman family) |
| 1907 - 2002 | Purchased from Col. Harrison Broadley for £5,000 by East |
| Riding County Council. Opened as Beverley High School, 23rd September 1908. |
