History of the School
An 18th Century Manor House in 25 acres of grounds
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Chilton - the "child's tun" or "children's place" - was, in Saxon times, the novitiate centre for nearby Muchelney Abbey. Subsequently, in the 11th century, the de Canteloe family were rewarded with the gift of the Manor for their role in the Norman Conquest. The Domesday Book records that the village consisted of a church and 28 dwellings - only three fewer than today.
Subsequent to the tenure of the de Canteloes and, later, of the Earls of Warwick, a succession of local families were associated both with the Manor and with other nearby houses of note (a fact recorded by the naming of the four "wings" of the Manor House as Barrington, Longleat, Montacute and Parnham).
In the 18th century, the Manor passed from Countess of Hertford (1729-80), to the Olds of Yeovil and then, through marriage, to the Goodford family, who moved out of the house in 1924. It was then retained "in commission" until requisitioned for the W.R.N.S. from 1942 until 1947, after which time it was maintained as a centre for Government Sponsored Training Courses. The Vestey Trust subsequently acquired the estate, which was then sold and established as an independent school.
Apart from some medieval fragments, the oldest surviving part of the house dates from the 1690's, and was incorporated into the present building when, in the mid-nineteenth century, the whole was enlarged on a pretentious scale by Sir John Goodford, on his retirement as Provost of Eton.
Chilton Cantelo School first opened its doors in 1989, under the direction and ownership of David and Maureen von Zeffman. They oversaw significant refurbishment of the Manor House and an ambitious, on-going programme of renovation and construction of additional buildings on site. In March 2007 the school was purchased by the Cognita Schools Limited and John Price (formerly Head of Boarding at Millfield Senior School) took over as Headmaster in September 2008.
The School enjoys an excellent reputation both at home and abroad for the breadth of education and record of achievement which only a unity of purpose and aim can achieve. Chilton Cantelo School entered the 21st century from a position of increased confidence and strength and remains justifiably proud of the success which it achieves.
