MERRIMAN HOUSE
The modest but elegant lines of the Merriman building express 
the gentlemanly character of the house. The forerunner of this building had been a satellite of Upper, housing Arthur Matthews’ “survey” class – a group of senior Andreans who were really tertiary students in the days before Rhodes University was established. After the construction in 1913 of Franklin Kendall’s grey stone building, “Lower”, as it was then called, became the headmaster’s administrative office while continuing to provide studies for senior students from Upper.
This history perhaps accounts for the more studious tone of Merriman House and its admirable record in academic and cultural pursuits. A succession of excellent housemasters nurtured this tone with their caring interest in the lives of the boys and their insistence on principles, high standards and impeccable manners. Also influential in moulding the character of the house would have been a personality like the long-serving matron, Sister “Troops” Spencer (1960s). A plague containing a tribute from the Merriman matrics of 1985 bears testimony to the high regard in which Percy Callaghan was held by those he mentored (1980s-90s). Housemaster John Gay (1950s-60s) served at one time or another in every top position in the school, and went on to cap his career by becoming warden of the Andrean Association.
Although Merriman is regarded as historically the second house at College, it was only in 1942 that it became a boarding house in its own right – some 20 years after the fifth house, Mullins, had already joined the family. In 1941 money from the estate of James Merriman, son of Bishop Nathaniel, enabled the school to build the Cornish dining hall and renovate Upper House. Lower was then renamed in Merriman’s honour when it was constituted a fully-fledged house the following year. Thus although the house’s roots are deep in the old school, its independent character, and traditions of friendly unity, are relatively new.
The school chaplain, Revd H Cartwright, became the first housemaster of Merriman. He shares with The addition of Blackburn Lodge in 1965 was made possible by Harry Blackburn, who also bequeathed to the school the coveted Blackburn scholarships. This building houses the Merriman newboys right under the housemaster’s wing (or nose!), and the raised bridge which joins it to the older part of the house serves as a kind of metaphor for the rite of passage which boys undertake at the end of their newboy year. Text from A Place to Celebrate (Written by Tim Nuttall and Lynette Paterson, assisted by Marguerite Poland)
For information on the current Housemaster of Merriman please click here: Merriman
many other great schoolmasters the reputation that he never visited any dormitory or study without first announcing his presence with the tread of hobnailed boots.
