Lady Joanna Thornhill is remembered in Wye chiefly as the founder of the primary school that still bears her name. But she came from a prominent West-Country family, the Grenvilles, who traced their origin to a supporter of William the Conqueror from Gran(d)ville in Brittany, and she had many distinguised ancestors.

By the time Joanna was born on 30th September 1635, as the tenth child in a large family, the Grenvilles had lived for many years at the manor of Stow (or Stowe), in Kilkhampton, Cornwall. Johanna grew up during the troubled times of the Civil War, in which her father and brothers supported the Royalist cause, and her father was killed. In 1653, when only eighteen, she married another Royalist, widower Richard Thornill, of Olantigh near Wye, as his second wife. He died four years later leaving her with two step-children and in somewhat straitened circumstances.

When her stepson came of age, Joanna left Olantigh and moved to her brother's apartments in Whitehall Palace and, in 1666, was appointed as a Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Catherine. Later, when the Queen moved to Somerset House, Joanna had her own rooms and servants and she remained a member of the Queen's Household until Catherine returned to Portugal in 1692. But Joanna kept her apartment in Somerset House until her own death.

Lady Joanna died on 7th January 1708.  She had retained an affection for Wye and requested she should be buried in Wye Parish Church, which took place on 31st January 1708.

In her will she gave  instructions for her funeral and for her monument in the Church.  She bequeathed the residue of her estate for the use and benefit of the poorest children of the town of Wye, for their improvement in learning.   The executors of the estate purchased a farm in Wye and in Romney Marsh and also paid for a schoolmaster and school mistress to teach the poor children for free.

Although the school was not situated on the current site, this continues today as Lady Joanna Thornhill (Endowed) Primary School

As part of their history lessons, our Year 1 children learn about Lady Joanna Thornhill and the history of our school.    During their lessons they take a trip to  the local church to see  where Lady Joanna was buried, and they spend time building Lady Joanna a house, as she built helped to build a school for the children of Wye.