AN EDWARD VI. SCHOOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 February 1937, Page 3

AN EDWARD VI. SCHOOL

! GUILDFORD’S CHAINED LIBRARY. > The Grammar School of Guildford, i owes its existence to Robert Beckiingham, citizen of London, and a member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers, who died in 1509. By his .will ihe left a certain number of properties in Bromley and Newington, the income from which was to found a free grammar school in Guildford (says the London “Sunday Times”). It was 11 years later, however, before the Mayor and the “Approved Men” of Guildford provided the land on which the first school was built. It was then situated in the High Street near the castle, and here the school remained for 35 years. During this time the income of the school had been totally inadequate, but the Marquess of Northampton, then Lord Chamberlain of England, along with Sir William Moore, of Loseley, approached the King on behalf of the school.

Edward VI was induced to grant a charter, and a further endowment. The charter, which is still in the possession of the school, states that “thereafter there shall be one Grammar School of King Edward VI, for the education and instruction of boys in grammar, at all future times for ever to endure, and the same school of one schoolmaster or teacher and one undermastcr or usher for over to continue.”

In 1555, the present site of the 'school was purchased and the buildling which is illustrated above was I erected. Originally, the- whole school was contained within this one building, and the picture is interesting as showing the old dormitories of the boys with their dormer windows in tho roof. Al that time the entrance fee was sixpence, but if the lad came from the country, the amount was double. In addition, every scholar had to pay eightpence, yearly towards the cost of brooms, rods and wax candles for light in the winter time. Tho school is built round a small paved courtyard. Some of the interiors are interesting, particularly the small library, which contains a number of old, though not very interesting books, which are chained t<> their shelves. It is the only school with , a. chained library in England. Guildford, too. has .•mother claim to fame, for it possesses one of the curliest records of the game of cricket played by schoolboys. There is in the Borough Records of 1589 a note of some dispute regarding the onelos-1 ing of land near the North Town! ditch. John Denwick was one of the witnesses called, and he declared that. | s<) years and more when he was a scholar al the free school, he did "rnnim and play there at. crockett." It. is interesting to note that this record is quoted in the Oxford Dictionary's allusions to the game.