Blakesley School
82 The Avenue

This article draws heavily on David Rymill’s books:

• Worcester Park, Old Malden & North Cheam: History at our feet.
  ISBN 978-0-9538418-1-3
• Worcester Park and Cuddington: A Walk through the Centuries.
  ISBN 0-9538418-0-4

Blakesley School (Formally Worcester Court) frontage to road.
Photo by Haiselden July 1959
Image courtesy Epsom & Ewell Local & Family History Centre.

Worcester Court was built off the The Avenue (Worcester Park) in 1873 for Alexander Hector a former merchant who had interests in Baghdad. For a short time the property seems to have been called Worcester House (not to be confused with Worcester Park House) perhaps because it replaced buildings used by Worcester Park Farm.

Worcester Court.
Extract from the 1933 OS Map

After Alexander Hector died in 1875 the building was let to various tenants.  In  1939 it was taken over by Blakesley School,  a preparatory day and boarding  school for both boys and girls.

In 1913 Blakesley School was set up and run  by Jack Hulton Dudley and his wife Alice out of Blakesley House in Merton (close to the Nelson Hospital).  Eric Dudley joined his parents as a teacher at the school in the late 1920s.  In 1939 Blakesley House, Merton was taken over as a first-aid post so the school moved into Worcester Court and was now being run by Eric Dudley and his wife Winifred.

Receipt for School Fees
Image courtesy of Peter Klein ©2023

Blakesley School (Formally Worcester Court) frontage to garden.
Photo by Haiselden July 1959
Image courtesy Epsom & Ewell Local & Family History Centre.

The school closed in 1959 and the building demolished to make way for the Worcester Gardens development.

Eric Dudley also formed the 2nd Cuddington (Blakesley) Cub pack and Miss Rowe who was the third-form teacher became the Akela from its founding in the early 1940s to the 1960s.

Peter Reed July 2023

In July 2025 Peter Windsor provided the following additional information.

Mr Dudly as I knew him had a wonderful collection of vintage cars. Many of which were used in films including Genevive. The one I remember was a red label Rolls Royce withe a super polished bonnet. I was driven home in it as my tooth was damaged by a cricket ball. Mr Dudley was very inventive also. We had amazing frosted glass boards back light with I believe fluorescent tubes, he used coloured chalk to write and draw on them. He was also ambidextrous with the ability to draw with both hands at once.