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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Eton College
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Probably the best-known of Britain's *public schools, on the opposite bank of the Thames from Windsor. It was founded in 1440 by *Henry VI. He built a superb chapel in the Perpendicular style (as at King's, *Cambridge), but at Eton only the choir was completed; murals of the 15C have survived on its walls. Eton has provided some 20 prime ministers from *Walpole to *Macmillan and *Home. The duke of Wellington was at the school and supposedly said that 'the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton' ( a remark first attributed to him shortly after his death). The boys have worn tail coats as a school uniform since about 1850, accompanied until the 1940s by top hats.
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Situated on the Thames, Eton took the lead in the 19C in developing rowing as a school sport. The famous Eton Boating Song (by William Johnson Cory, 1823–92) celebrates 'Jolly boating weather/And a hay harvest breeze', urges the boys to 'Swing, swing together', and proclaims: Rugby may be more clever,
Harrow may make more row,
But we'll row, row for ever,
Steady from stroke to bow.
In Cory's original Harrow was more clever and Rugby noisier, but Eton long ago demoted Harrow (the school's main rival) from intellectural eminence to mere rowdiness.
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