[2] The school was founded in 1863 in the Lancashire coastal town of Lytham, by schoolmistresses Elizabeth Hall and Catherine Sharpe.

The most significant move was in 1924, when the school left Lancashire for the Browhead Estate in Windermere, Westmorland.

The neighbouring estate of Elleray was acquired in 1944 to house the school's preparatory and pre-preparatory departments.

The Senior School is based at Browhead — a wooded, fellside estate, a mile from the village of Windermere.

At its heart is a large Victorian house, home to the school's administrative centre, library, and girls' boarding accommodation on the upper floors.

Other buildings on site include the Westmorland and Langdale boarding houses for Sixth Formers and boys respectively, a science complex, additional classrooms, Jenkins Centre (for the Music, Performing Arts and Languages departments, plus dining hall and kitchens), the Art and Technology department at South Lodge, additional staff accommodation at North Lodge, the Headmaster's house (Brow Wood), the Astroturf hockey pitch, tennis courts, sports hall and sports field.

Elleray has its own sports pitches and tennis court, and the surrounding fields serve as a playground.

There is a central pavilion with changing facilities, a boathouse, harbour and extensive wooded grounds.

In 2018, Hodge Howe became a British Youth Sailing Recognised Club by the RYA for its race training, becoming the first school facility in the UK to earn this status.

Today, boarders account for approximately half the senior school pupils, and there are a small number from Elleray.

In addition, girls still wear the striped 'deckchair' blazer — one of the few reminders of the school's seaside past.