The Genesis and Evolution of Hampton School
Hampton School, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Malvern, St. Elizabeth, was established in 1858 with funds bequeathed by Robert Hugh Munro to his nephew Caleb Dickenson in a will dated January 21, 1797. The funds were to be used to establish a school for the education of the poor children of St. Elizabeth. However, this was not done until 1856 when a boys’ school was established in Black River. In 1857, the school was relocated to an old coffee property in Potsdam and in 1858 a girls’ school, with fewer than twelve students, was set up The girls’ school was set up on the present site of the headmaster’s house, now Munro College. on the same campus as the boys’ school. The girls’ school was set up on the present site of the headmaster’s house, now Munro College.
Later, the girls’ school was moved to Torrington, for a short while, and then to Mt. Zion, a short distance from the boys’ school. In 1891, the school was again relocated to is present location formerly the old Fort Rose property owned by Mr. W.L. Boxer. The new property owner, changed the name from Fort Rose to Hampton in honour of his mother, Lady Boxer, who was allowed to live at Hampton Court in England, after the death of her husband, Sir. Edward Boxer, in the Crimean War. After the death of Lady Boxer, the trustees of the Munro & Dickenson Trust bought the school for £800 in 1896.
Over the years, Hampton School has been led by a number of headmistresses.