Chiltern Hills Attractions

Eton College Choice of school plays a far greater role in England than in other European countries; those graduating from the "right" school can later find this a decisive factor both socially and in their careers. Eton College is synonymous with English education at its best. Founded in 1440 by Henry VI, it is the British public school most steeped in tradition. The pupils comprise 70 "collegers", whose position at top of their class entitles them to free study and accommodation, and rather more than 1,000 "oppidans" (day boys), who pay fees and live in halls of residence or guest-houses, often supervised by teachers or lecturers. All pupils wear a uniform: cutaway coat and striped trousers. Many very influential men have attended Eton, including Henry Fielding, William Pitt, Percy B. Shelley, William Gladstone, the Duke of Wellington and 20 English prime ministers. The red-brick main building, which dates from the school's founding, extends around two quadrangles. Most of the buildings opposite are new. The Lower School was established 1624-1639, the Upper School between 1689 and 1692. The school chapel is particularly remarkable. Completed in the Perpendicular style in 1441, it is actually only the choir of a church planned to be almost twice this size. It contains old brass plates and, more importantly, some wonderful grisaille paintings (1470-1490), depicting scenes from the life of Mary. These were painted over in the second half of the 16th century, but were later restored. A bronze statue of Henry VI stands in the school quadrangle, the work of Francis Bird (1719). A passageway leads from Lupton's Tower (1520) to the cloisters with the hall (1450) and the library (1729).