St Elowen’s Lumen servamus
At the gate

The Great Elm

An enormous spreading elm at the gate. It has stood through every storm the Weald has thrown at it.

The drive up to St Elowen's on an autumn afternoon, with the Great Elm at the gate and the house beyond.

The school's living emblem, and the reason the crest carries a tree. It has stood at our gate through every storm the Weald has thrown at it, which is exactly why Elm girls are steadfast, and why they are insufferable about it. At dusk, a rook settles in its top. When the girls come up the drive after a term away and see the tower lantern burning and a rook settling on the Great Elm, that is how they know they are home.

It has stood at our gate through every storm the Weald has thrown at it.

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Read the first three chapters
Read the first three chapters