User:Sebzlamarsw/Craig House (Eastbourne College)

Craig House (Eastbourne College) (1576-present) is one of the three boys day houses at Eastbourne College. It is widely regarded as an outstanding example of public school prestige, combined with friendly collaboration between the schoolboys. It is the smallest house in the school, and a common misconception would be to dismiss it as meaningless and weak. However, its sparkling array of achievements and honours would beg to differ. Filehttp://eastbournecollege.fluencycms.co.uk/Mainfolder/college_life/House-System/housesystem_craig_content_1.jpg:

Beginnings
Discovered in 1576 by the Dutch, it was dubbed "Craggenhuuse" by Lead Commander van Kreckenhoven, and subsequently presented the Dutch flag by the door (giving Craig its present-day orange colour). He noted on the shoddy maintenance of the building, and the uncouth nature of the natives. By 1603, with the death of Elizabeth I, war broke out between the British and the Dutch invaders. An early attempt at a settlement was the Treaty of Beresford, 1612, but this resulted in the natives receiving too much power for a substantial governmental machine to be established. The revised Treaty of Summerdown a year later saw most of Craig House's revenues going to the British, but the building to be kept by the Dutch. After the financial breakdown of 1617, the Dutch were fiscally crippled, and were forced to cede the territory to Great Britain, who (by way of mistranslation) named the land "Craig House", and the legacy lives on to this day.

Under British Occupation
As an LCBE (Local Colony of the British Empire), Craig House became a hotbed of industry, turning out nearly half of the country's beehives and kettles. The economic boom that she experienced in the 1650's allowed her to have a say in her own governing, unlike any other colonies of the time. As a result of the English Civil War, the House was significantly reduced in numbers, but the sturdy demand for appliances and recreational beekeeping equipment kept the workforce afloat.

Skirmishes
Outbreaks of resentment weren't uncommon for the House. By 1750, no less than 30 individual battles had taken place between radicals and the Army. However, in 1773, in an attempt to lease funds for the ongoing War of Independence with the American territories, Craig House's constraints were temporarily loosened and local militia disbanded. Craig House suddenly saw herself more powerful than it had ever been since Dutch occupation.

Wargrave Petition (1798)
Now armed with near-independence and a steady economy, Craig was ready to demand the distracted government for revolution. Radical constitutionalists Edmund Gurming and Patrick Joyce joined at Wargrave House to draw up a series of demands, including full independence "in all forms".