On December 23rd, 1940, the Owl's Nest was destroyed by a Luftwaffe bomb during what became known as the "Christmas Blitz". In Ulula, the history of the nest prior to 1940 was outlined and is reproduced below:
"It has been suggested by the Editor that readers of Ulula would like a brief history of the School Hut prior to its destruction by enemy action on the night of December 23rd last. The writer apologises for any errors or omissions. The Hut, formerly a Sergeants' Mess, was erected on the ground bought for the School by Mr. J. L. Paton shortly after the conclusion of the Great War. His great generosity has been a cause of joy to many hundreds of Grammar School boys. Except for a new brick lavatory (which alone remains intact), a succession of new stoves and a number of new doors, the buildings remained substantially unaltered for twenty years. The lighting developed from oil lamps, via various types of paraffin and petrol pressure lamps, to electricity. Water was in ample supply, although, owing to foolish plumbing, there were frequent blockages and bursts in winter. The beds (twenty in number) were fixed to the walls and lasted well, though the wirework needed replacing periodically. The famous sheepskins gradually became dismembered and only some few fragments survived to the last.
For the first few years the Hut was used spasmodically. Dr. Bruton's Saturday rambles usually included a visit, and Mr. W.H. Madden, who then lived in Disley, was a keen custodian. A few week-end camps were held, but the main occupations were by Mr. Paton himself. These camps usually took the form of working camps. Mr. Paton, who lived mainly in the kitchen, would pounce out from time to time to read Herodotus or Plato with members of the Classical Sixth, and then retire again to prepare the next meal. Enormous amounts of food were got ready and everything had to be eaten up. Last thing at night an expedition to the "Murder Stone" gave Mr. Paton his sole fresh air of the day. His overalls survived for many a year after his retirement.
Soon after this period ended, a greater effort was made to use the Hut at week-ends. A lady caretaker, Miss Hitchlock, appeared, to do the week-end cooking and to keep the place in order. As a result, a visiting master had no problems except to collect the money and bring and supervise the boys. Frequently the Hut was in use almost every week-end of the year. The various Scout Troops (who for many years held their field day at the Hut) became liable to use the Hut : Troop I. in the Easter holidays, Troops II. and III. at various times, and Troop IV. in vast numbers at the Lent Half-term holiday. On one occasion Mr. Miller (aided by Mr. Kennelly) came with a flock of First-formers at Whitsuntide.
In September, 1939, the Hut was commandeered for evacuee children and Miss Hitchlock was put in charge. But, as the weather became colder, most of the children were taken away, and after two months the scheme ended. Week-end camps were soon resumed, though not in great numbers.
For most of the time the Secretary of the Disley Committee was Mr. W. Hulme, who visited the place frequently, supervised the Hut and its interests with keen efficiency, and deserves from all who have used the Hut in the last twelve years a gratitude second only to that due to Mr. Paton.
As suggested above, a description such as this is bound to have many omissions. Countless comic scenes, countless games, countless minor accidents, countless minor squabbles with local farmers, all live in the memory of those who were present. The writer could add many that lie has himself witnessed, but such cannot be of general interest. May he be allowed to conclude with the hope that a new Hut may soon appear on the old spot?"
The nest was eventually rebuilt, though it wasn't fully back in action until October 1949. To read more on the history of the nest, follow this link: https://www.mgs-life.co.uk/article/the-history-of-mgs-in-50-objects-35-the-owls-nest?ref=64
An interesting read on the origins of the Nest : would it have been written around 1960 ? My only visit was during my very first term at MGS, in September or October 1955, with 1 Beta form master Taffy Davies.
On a Friday afternoon, we all walked from the School to Levenshulme Station, where we caught the Buxton train to DIsley. Then it was a trudge up the hill from the station to the hut, carrying a small suitcase or duffel bag, though maybe some better equipped boys would have had rucksacks.
I remember the iron bunks, the wooden floor, the cast iron stove and the brick toilet block, where I had my first ever shower. Each night, we were read the Father Brown stories to get us off to sleep. I seem to think we had porridge for breakfast and the food was quite good.
On Sunday morning, one of the boys went off very early to Mass at the Catholic Church in the village, and a couple of hours later the rest of us trooped off to the parish church for the Sunday service.
I was bewildered by the ritual and the fact that everyone seemed to follow the service without being told which page to turn to or what to say when. Our Prefect, Peter Downes, was sat next to me and seeing my confusion enquired whether I went to Church. I replied that I went to a Congregational Church, not the C of E, and we didn’t use the Book of Common Prayer or whatever.
I think the purpose of the trip was a bonding exercise, but it was the first time that I remember feeling out of place at MGS, though I suppose there there must have been other boys in our form who were not brought up in the C of E and I I wonder whether any of the Jewish boys in our form would have attended that particular weekend away.