In May 1835 T. Nixon advertised his intention to open a school in Howlett Hall for not more than 12 young gentlemen under his own tuition on 20th July. He had previously successfully run a school at Thorp Arch. The 1837 Leeds Directory list him as running a boarding school in Hambleton. In the 1841 census a Thomas Nixon was listed as a farmer living with his family but did not say where in Hambleton so whether he was still running the school is not clear.