ONE of the York area's most historic private schools has closed because of dwindling numbers, the Evening Press has learned.

Red House Preparatory School, in Moor Monkton, which was set to celebrate its centenary next year, said goodbye to its last pupil at a farewell carol service - to the shock of staff and villagers.

Headmaster Major Anthony Gordon, whose two children taught at the school, was too distressed to go into detail, but confirmed the school had closed.

"It became impossible to carry on with the numbers we had," he told the Evening Press.

"It has been a pretty sad time for everyone at the school."

Red House, which is set in 70 acres on the banks of the River Ouse, boasts a 17th century listed building and historic chapel, and was chosen as a location for several episodes of the popular TV series, The Darling Buds Of May, in the early 1990s.

Annual fees for day pupils were set at £5,700, and the school had 17 students and a mixture of seven full and part-time staff at the time of closing.

Villagers reacted with shock and sadness at hearing the news.

One resident of 29 years, Marjorie Ward, who is a member of the village hall committee, said: "I can't believe it. Red House has always played a big part in the community and I'm very sad it has closed. I suppose with the small numbers they had it was understandable."

Jean Close, clerk of Moor Monkton Parish Council, of which Major Gordon is the chairman, said it was a big loss to the village.

"It's a tragedy - Red House was a very good school," she said.

"The results were always pretty good, but financially it was not a viable proposition any more."

Pupils were offered a range of outdoor activities at Red House including, sailing, fishing, swimming, tennis and croquet.

The school's country house was built in 1600, or thereabouts, by the Royalist Slingsby family, one of whom was executed for his supposed part in a plot to restore the monarchy.

Updated: 14:45 Thursday, December 20, 2001