THE Grammar School is situated at the south-east corner of the church
yard, and is a spacious and well-constructed edifice of brick. It was
founded and endowed by Edward Lord Clinton and Saye, the Lord High
Admiral of England, under the authority of letters patent, dated the 25th
of June, 1652. By these letters it was ordained, that this institution
should be denominated “The Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, in the
Town or Soke of Horncastle, of the foundation of Edward Lord Clinton and
Saye,” for the education, training, and instruction of boys and youths in
grammar, and to be appropriated to this object for ever.
The school was to be conducted by a master, and a sub-master, or usher:
ten governors were also appointed and incorporated, with perpetual
succession, and a common seal. These governors were empowered on the
death of any of their body, to elect others in their places; also to
nominate the master and usher on any vacancy; and to make such statutes
concerning the preservation and disposal of the revenues, as
circumstances at any time might dictate. Besides holding the endowments,
they were authorized to purchase and receive lands and other possessions,
not exceeding £40. per annum.
The estates by which the establishment is maintained, consist of houses
and land situated at Horncastle, Hemingby, Sutton, Huttoft, and
Winthorpe. The lands in the last three named parishes being subject to
inundations from the sea, the annual revenue is rendered precarious; but
in the more favorable years it amounts to about £200.
The salaries for a long time were £40. per annum to the master, and £30.
to the sub-master or usher: but on the appointment of the present master,
in 1818, the salary was advanced to £80. per annum, to which was also
added a house for his residence; the salary of the sub-master remaining
as heretofore, at £30. The sum of £2. 2_s._ per annum is charged for
those scholars who are instructed in writing and arithmetic. There are
at this period about twenty boys on the foundation.
The governors of this School have also the management of another school
in the town, for the instruction of poor children in reading, sewing, and
knitting. A house, with a salary to the teacher of £17. per annum,
charged upon certain estates in Horncastle, having been bequeathed to
them in trust, for that purpose, by Mr. Richard Watson, a native of this
place, who died in 1784.
[Picture: Seal of the Horncastle Navigation Company]