When the Magnet and Gem folded due to paper shortage in 1940 Frank Richards suddenly found himself out of work with a tax hangover from the previous year. Greyfriars, St Jim's and Rookwood were Richards own creation but he had sold the rights to the Amalgamated Press in 1921 and they wouldn't give him permission to write stories based on the characters that they owned the copyright to.
As writing stories featuring all the
old favourites was not allowed Hamilton had little choice but
to create new schools and characters. On the whole they were not a great success
and it was a great relief to Hamilton when in 1947 Amalgamated press gave
permission for Richards to write books and annuals ( but not weekly stories) about his
earlier creations. Richards went on to publish numerous books and annuals
featuring the old favourites but that is for the future - this section focuses
on characters and schools created during the post war period when Bunter et al
were barred and
new schools and characters were a necessary evil to provide an income for
Hamilton.
Carcroft was one of the most popular schools and featured in a number of publications. Click on the link for more information.
Lynwood was a short lived creation from JB Publications. Stories of Tipton school and Mick of the Spindrift also featured in the Fourth Form at Lynwood , I am not aware of any of these characters appearing in any other publication.
Felgate was created for the Raymond Glendenning book of sports and also featured in Billy Bunter's Own and Tom Merry's Own annuals.
Headland House was created by Hilda Richards in 1946 and published by William C. Merrett . The stories were aimed at the girls market as Hamilton wasn't allowed to write about Bessie Bunter and the other Cliff House girls.
The Romance series was published in 1945 when William C. Merrett asked Hamilton if he could try his hand at writing romance stories. Five books were written under the pen name of Winston Cardew.
The Sparshott series was yet another experimental school created in 1945 and published by William C. Merrett.
The Mascot series was published by John Matthew in 1946-1947 and featured St Olives and Topham schools.