"There’s a breathless hush in the close tonight." Poet Sir Henry Newbolt’s memorable line recalls his schooldays at Clifton College. Opened in 1862 in emulation of the old-established public schools, it looks the part. Architect Charles Hanson took as his model the Tudor buildings at Eton and Winchester Colleges. Headmaster John Percival rapidly made Clifton one of England’s leading public schools. It now hosts the summer Prom on The Close - a major open-air classical music event.