The Paragon School

In 1737, Mr Charles Milsom, a barrel maker from Bath, found a spring within the area that is now known as Lyncombe House. Seeing potential fortune in the discovery, he enlisted the help of John Wood to construct a large, impressive structure to safeguard the spring. This was designed to serve as an attraction for visitors during the summer, providing an alternative to Bath's hot springs. The 'Spa' waters were promoted as having magical properties, which was emphasized in the published book 'An Inquiry into the Contents and Medicinal Virtues of Lincomb Spaw Water, near Bath'. The construction of Lyncombe House took place around 1742 and it initially functioned as accommodation for the Spa. However, by the 1800s, it was marketed for rent as a family residence. The building featured various spaces that we now recognize as classrooms, along with other rooms like a dining room, a breakfast parlor, a drawing room, bedrooms with dressing rooms, a brewery, a cold bath, and a coach house. Additionally, the premises also included a garden, a lawn, and two fish ponds. In 1857, the property was bought by the Moger family, who had significant influence in the growth and development of the city. Among their ventures were a dairy, a brewery, a drapery, and a bank. The Mogers added a circular plunge bath on the eastern side of the ground floor, which was later dismantled in the 1950s. The house was bought by the Convent Prep in 1952 and it was renamed Lyncombe House School. The Paragon School acquired the building in 1983, leading to the merging of the two schools. Since then, the school has continued to grow with the refurbishment of the stables, the building of the Lodge, and the establishment of playgrounds and outdoor learning classrooms.