Historical Background The College was established in 1852 by the Church of England for the training of women teachers, who like their brothers, "would go out to the schools in the service of humanity, lay priests to the poor, moved by Christian Charity". Hockerill was probably the tenth in order of foundation of the Women's Colleges, whose history goes back to the founding in 1811, of the "National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church throughout England and Wales". The College was founded by the diocese of Rochester which included, at that time, Hertfordshire and Essex and was known as the Rochester Diocesan Institute for the Training of Schoolmistresses. On 11 October 1940, however, Menet House and St Albans House were bombed and three students lost their lives, St Alban's House was completely demolished and Menet House was declared unsafe. The damage was extensive (D/EHk6/4/14-17, 6/9/12). Once the war was over the builders moved into Hockerill once more (see D/EHk2/2). ZENDER, EDITH GRACE Rank: Civilian Date of Death: 11/10/1940 Age: 18 Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority BISHOP'S STORTFORD, URBAN DISTRICT Additional Information: Daughter of Alfred and Edith Zender, of Flower Knott, Hockley Heath, Warwickshire. Died at Hockerill Training College. CARNELL, EVELYN JOYCE Rank: Civilian Date of Death: 11/10/1940 Age: 18 Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority BISHOP'S STORTFORD, URBAN DISTRICT Additional Information: Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Carnell, of Pajodene, Ash, Canterbury. Died at Hockerill Training College. DRAKE, EVELYN JOAN Rank: Civilian Date of Death: 11/10/1940 Age: 19 Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority BISHOP'S STORTFORD, URBAN DISTRICT Additional Information: Daughter of Leonard James and Gertrude Lilian Drake, of Navestock Heath House, Navestock, Romford, Essex. Died at Hockerill Training College. The National Archives | Access to Archives Hockerill Windmill - Bishop's Stortford and Thorley - A History and Guide
