Featured on the BBC
On 16th December 2024, BBC Two aired a wonderful episode of Villages by the Sea, featuring the beautiful coastal village of St Bees. We are immensely proud that the school was included in this special programme.
We highly recommend watching it on BBC iPlayer via the link below:
(School on from 20:51)
Villages by the Sea Episode
In the summer of 2024, St Bees School was delighted to welcome Ben Robinson, along with the BBC production and film crew, for the making of a special St Bees episode of Villages by the Sea.
The BBC Two series, presented by Ben Robinson, explores much-loved villages along the UK’s coastline. Each episode offers a fresh perspective, examining the unique history and character of these communities through the eyes of an inquisitive visitor.
In this particular programme, Ben focused on the visible influences that have shaped the village of St Bees over the centuries — including religion, education, tourism, agriculture, and employment.
During filming, Ben spent considerable time with Headmaster Mr Keep in the school dining room, where they explored a number of remarkable historical items. The first was the magnificent original Charter of 1585, which granted permission from Queen Elizabeth I to Edmund Grindal to found the school. This was followed by the enormous School Register Book, in which the Governors documented school affairs from 1586 to 1856.
One particularly fascinating moment featured the reading of the original lease granted to Sir James Lowther in 1742. This lease allowed Lowther to mine the school’s lands for an astonishing length of time — and for virtually nothing. As Mr Keep rightly described it, it was a “dodgy deal”! Fortunately, Lowther was later fined, providing the school with a significant cash injection that enabled further expansion in the 1800s.
Andrew also guided Ben and the crew through the 'hidden' 16th-century staircase in the Foundation Building — a striking feature rarely seen by visitors.
It’s a brilliant episode for anyone interested in learning more about the rich history of the school and the village. We highly recommend giving it a watch!