1573 Atherstone Grammer School

Though it is a little difficult to follow in places this extract gives a comprehensive history of Atherstone Grammer School from its inception up until 1818 and contains some fasinating facts.

The free grammer school at Atherstone was founded by a Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth, dated the 22d of December, 1573,-

Which recites, that Thomas Fulner, of London, Merchant, having out of love to this his native Town left £200 to be laid out in the purchase of lands, for establishing a Grammer School therein and providing a fit Master.

That Amias Hill having left a rent of 26s..8d., issuing out of certain lands and tenements in the County of Warwick, in furtherance of the same benevolent design.

And, that Sir William Devereux, Knight, proposed to assure to the Inhabitants certain lands and tenements in this County, provided the Queen would vouchsafe to establish the School by her Letters Patent.

Her Majesty therefore ordained, that from thenceforth there should be one Grammer School in the Town of Atherstone, to be call “The free grammer school, of Wiliiam Devereux, Knight, Thomas Fulner, and Amias Hill,” for the education, instruction and information of boys and young men in Grammer in Atherstone, for ever to endure.

And that the Revenues of the School might be the better governed, she directed, that Twelve of the discreet and honest men of the Town should be, and be called, “Keepers and Governors, of the possessions of the School, - that they should be a Body Corporate and Politic, with perpetual succession,- and should have a Common Seal.

They were also empowered to elect a Master of the School as often as the same may be vacant by death, resignation, or otherwise, by the nomination of the whole or the major part of them,- And to make good and wholesome Statues and Ordinances, for the government of the institution and its’ Revenues.

If the governors shall neglect or omit, to appoint a proper Master within five months after a vacancy, the Bishop of the Diocese is empowered to nominate a fit and learned person as Master of the School, who shall exercise his office according to the Ordinances.

The following are the names of the present Keepers and Governors

• Robert Lingard, of Atherstone.
• Benjamin Hecton, late of Atherstone, now resident at Whiston, near Wolverhampton.
• John Hinks, of Atherstone.
• John Hood Chapman, of Atherstone.
• James Baker, of Atherstone.
• John Power, of Atherstone, Bailiff to the Governors for the year 1818.
• William Freer, of Atherstone.
• John Bourne, of Atherstone.
• George Sale, of Atherstone.
• Lord Grey, Atherstone Hall.
• John Power, M. D., of Atherstone.
• Dudley Baxter, of Atherstone.

The School-house was built about the year 1720, by such means as The Governors could raise,- part of which was an advanced of The Revd. Thomas Shaw, then the Master, under covenant of repayment to him, or his Executors; of the whole or part, in case he should not enjoy the School for a certain number of years,- and, it is supposed, that the remainder of Mr. Hill’s donation was payable out of Cottages then standing on the present site of the Schoolhouse.

There is a copy of Ordinances which were agreed upon, in 1607, between the Governors and the Bishop of the Diocese, there stiled and subscribing himself the Bishop of “Coventry and Lichfield,”- but, as far as they relate to the Master and Scholars, they are become obsolete.

The present Regulation of the time of Study is,- between Lady-day and Michaelmas, from six to eight o’Clock, and from half after eight to twelve, in the Morning; and, in the Afternoon, from two o’clock until five,- From Michaelmas to Lady-day, one hour later in the Morning, with the same, intervals during the day.

The number of Scholars upon the Foundation is indefinite, but it has seldom exceeded Ten.

There is no particular form of Admission; the application to the Master, by the Parent of a boy of the Township, has never been refused. The applicant for admission must read correctly a Chapter of the New Testament, and be above the age of seven years. There is no rules for superannuation.

The Eton Grammers are those in use; and noparticular syste, of Education is prescribed.
There are no University advantages attached to this School.

The present Master is, The Revd. William Bradley, M. A., of Brasen-Nose College Oxford, whose Salary is £110. per annum, with the School-house which is capable of accommodating about 25 Boarders, and six acrres of excellent PAsture-land.

This Gentleman was elected at Midsummer 1817, in the room of The Revd. James Chartres, who had for Pupils a short time before his resignation, Two sons of Lord Grey, eldest son of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington,- a sonof the Bishop of Bristol, - and those of sveral other gentlement of considerable rank and consequence.

The following are the names of The Masters, with the dates of their Elections,-

1608. Thomas Whitehead
1614. Christopher Davenport.
1617. Thomas Bedford.
1631. Ohadiah Grew.
1644. John Perkins.
1697. Thomas Shaw.
1712. Richard Blore.
1726. Revd. Thomas Shaw.
1748. Revd. William Biddle.
1771. Revd. William Finch, LL. B.
1773. Revd. John Mitchell.
1787. Revd. James Charters.
1817. Revd. William Bradley, M. A.

There is a small percentage appendage to this School, under the same Trustees, but not included in the Charter,- originating from a Donation by William Symonds, of Atherstone, Mercer, of the rent of two piueces of land in Whittingtom, toprovide a Protestant School,aster to teach the boys of Atherstone so much English learning as shall fit them for the free school, and shall cause them to learn “The Assembly’s Catechism” to say it without book.

This Endowment which consists of seven acres of land only, without any House for the residence of the MAster, has lately been presented to Mr. Thomas Orme, - and the room in which the School is kept, adjoins and was formerly part of the Grammer School.

A Concise Description of the Endowed Grammar Schools in England and Wales. By Nicholas Carlisle Published 1818