St Leonard's

We are the only secondary school in England to take the name of St Leonard, and it is somewhat of an unusual name for a school, as St Leonard is the patron saint of prisoners.

The school was given the name when it opened in 1936, as in medieval times there was a hospital and chapel dedicated to St Leonard in this part of Durham, dating back to at least 1292. The chapel would have ministered to the sick and elderly, and also to prisoners, as the public place of execution – the Gallows Field – was adjacent to the chapel of St Leonard.

The Victorian house at the centre of our school was built on the Gallows Field in the 1850s. When the house and grounds were purchased by the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in 1936, the school was given the name of St Leonard reflecting the history of the site and the medieval chapel of St Leonard.

Our site has a rich and diverse history. As well as being on the Gallows Field, it also contains: a Victorian Mansion & Gatehouse, a Grade II listed Obelisk, and a tree line that is within the Durham City conservation area. 

Part One: Medieval Times and the Gallows Field

Part Two: A Victorian House

Part Three: A ‘Modern’ School

Part Four: Footage from 1970s St Leonard’s

Appendix: Our Obelisk