Meet Professor Montague Mount: The Beginning of an Extraordinary Adventure

As The Mount celebrates its 75th anniversary, a mysterious explorer, inventor and time traveller is helping us bring history, art, music and imagination to life. And our children are about to become part of his story.

A rather mysterious arrival at The Mount

The year was 1951.

A rather eccentric gentleman arrived at the gates of Cedar Grove, Huddersfield, carrying battered leather suitcases, old maps, curious inventions and journals documenting his travels around the world.

His name was Professor Montague Mount.

An explorer, artist, musician, inventor and, if the unusual collection of clocks attached to his top hat is anything to go by, quite possibly a time traveller.

Where had he come from? Why had he arrived at Cedar Grove? And what exactly was hidden inside those extraordinary suitcases?

Seventy-five years later, we're beginning to uncover his story.

And as The Mount celebrates its 75th anniversary, we're inviting our children to help discover more about this rather extraordinary character.

A lifetime of adventures and unanswered questions

Among the Professor's belongings are photographs, journals and souvenirs from an extraordinary collection of adventures.

We've discovered photographs of him painting in Florence in 1897, exploring the pyramids of Egypt in 1898, admiring Lake Como in 1901 and watching hot air balloons rise above Cappadocia in 1902. Other images place him in Vienna, Paris and New York, surrounded by artists, musicians and people from different cultures.

Wherever he travelled, the Professor collected ideas, learned from the people he met and found inspiration in the world around him.

But there's something else rather intriguing.

In several photographs, a mysterious woman appears alongside him. Sometimes they're examining maps, sometimes sharing discoveries, and in one photograph they're standing together in what appears to be his study.

Who was she? His wife? His sister? A fellow explorer? Perhaps a scientist who helped him develop his unusual inventions?

We simply don't know. We've only just begun examining his memoirs, and perhaps somewhere among his notes we'll find the answers.

For now, the mystery continues.

Bringing the Professor's world to life

At The Mount, we exist to make childhood unforgettable. We believe children deserve a childhood filled with awe, wonder and amazement, one that encourages them to dream big, question the world around them and believe extraordinary things are possible.

It's why we've created experiences such as our London double-decker bus, the Imaginarium and Nautilus. Professor Montague Mount is the latest chapter in that story.

We've been creating a home for him within our new Creative Arts Suite, where the world of a Victorian explorer meets music, art and imagination. With vintage maps, mysterious artefacts, books, instruments and curious inventions, his study is designed to feel like a place where extraordinary discoveries have been made, and perhaps a few are still waiting to be found.

We want children to walk into this space and immediately start asking questions. What does that strange instrument do? Where did this photograph come from? And why are there so many clocks?

Sometimes the best learning begins with a simple question.

When imagination becomes part of the curriculum

Perhaps the most exciting opportunity is how the Professor's adventures can become part of our children's learning, connecting subjects and bringing the curriculum to life.

A photograph of the Professor in Florence could become the starting point for exploring Renaissance artists and architecture. A journal from Vienna might introduce children to Mozart and Beethoven, inspiring them to investigate musical instruments or compose something of their own.

A mysterious map from Egypt could lead to lessons in history, geography and the mathematics behind the pyramids. Meanwhile, photographs from Cappadocia might inspire experiments into flight, engineering and the science of hot air balloons.

There's enormous potential for creative writing, drama and problem-solving too. Children could decipher messages, investigate historical clues, write accounts of the Professor's expeditions or work together to solve one of his mysteries.

By weaving these adventures into our curriculum, we can make learning more immersive, interactive and memorable, encouraging children to research, question and think for themselves while having enormous fun along the way.

A mystery for our children to solve

Throughout our 75th anniversary academic year, we'll gradually reveal more of the Professor's story through photographs, diary entries, forgotten letters, film recordings and curious objects discovered among his belongings.

We'd love our children to become part of the investigation, examining evidence, making connections and developing their own theories. Perhaps a handwritten letter will provide the next clue, or something hidden in the Professor's study will lead us towards an entirely new adventure.

And, of course, there's still the mystery of the woman who appears in so many of his photographs. Who was she, and what part did she play in his extraordinary life?

We suspect there are plenty more surprises to come.

Celebrating 75 years of extraordinary childhoods

As we celebrate The Mount's 75th anniversary, we're looking back at the generations of children who have passed through our doors, while also thinking about the memories we're creating for those here today.

We want our pupils to remember the excitement of discovering a hidden clue, solving a difficult problem, performing on stage or realising they can create something extraordinary. We want them to look back on a childhood where their imagination was encouraged, their curiosity celebrated and learning was full of unforgettable experiences.

That's what Professor Montague Mount represents. His adventures will introduce children to extraordinary people, places and ideas, while giving them opportunities to become explorers, investigators, artists, musicians and storytellers themselves.

Perhaps, as they discover more about his life, they'll begin to imagine the adventures they might one day have themselves.

The adventure is only beginning...

We're so excited to welcome Professor Montague Mount to The Mount family. Throughout this special anniversary year, we'll be sharing more of his memoirs, revealing new discoveries and inviting our children to help investigate the mysteries surrounding his adventures.

So keep your eyes open, listen carefully and watch out for messages from the Professor. You never know what might turn up next.

Welcome to The Mount, Professor Montague Mount. Here's to 75 years of unforgettable childhoods, and the extraordinary adventures still to come.