Question: I am looking for any information whatsoever concerning Coombe Brook School (or perhaps "Coombebrook") which I attended 1939/1940. The headmistress was Miss Brockelhurst, and I believe the school was located in or near to Marlowes. I would like to discover exactly where it was located.

Answer: The school began as Oakley Lodge School, run by Mrs Emily Brocklehurst at 49 Marlowes which was next to Cheere House (part opf the hospital). It was described as a "ladies school for little boys and girls."

The school was in existence well before the First World and in 1916 pupils gave a performance in St Mary's Hall, Hemel Hempstead and raised over £5 for Dr Barnardo's Homes - pupils were all encouraged to have a Dr Barnardo's collecting box and these were emptied once a year.

In 1917, Mrs Brocklehurst moved to Coombrook House at 41 Marlowes (Hence Coombrook School). 41 Marlowes is next to The Gazette office at 39 Marlowes. The fees for day pupils were 4 guineas at that time.

We are not sure when the school closed, but 41 Marlowes was taken over by the Hemel Hempstead Development Corporation at the time of the building of the new town. The building later became the 16-21 youth club, but about 18 years ago it and the neighbouring old Gazette offices were demolished and a new office block built, divided into two. 39 Marlowes is still occupied by the Gazette, 41 was for several years the European base of Budget Rent a Car.