The memorial gates outside the New Plymouth Girls High School hostel, Scotlands, were constructed in 1928, the same year the hostel itself was opened.
At the opening ceremony on 14 December 1928 the president of the Old Girls Association, Elsie Andrews, said the gates were reacted in honour of former headmistress, the late Catherine Grant. She said it was mainly through Miss Grant's persistence that a hostel had eventually been built.
The southern plaque simply reads "Scotlands", whilst the northern plaque reads "Given by the Old Girls in Memory of Miss Grant". The wrought iron gates and concrete pillars were described at the time as being a fitting entrance to the hostel.
Catherine Grant started teaching at the combined boys and girls high school in 1897 and then when the schools separated she became headmistress of the girl's school. At the outset of World War One she resigned to serve overseas in hospitals as part of the war effort.
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