EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
Having dealt with the places of worship in the town, we now proceed to
give an account of its schools; and among these the Grammar School, from
its antiquity, as well as for other reasons, claims precedence.
This Institution, on its present foundation, dates from the reign of
Elizabeth, {91} one of whose special characteristics was her warm
interest in education, which led her to encourage her nobles, and more
wealthy subjects, to promote the cause. The Reformation had given an
impetus towards emancipation from the ignorance which prevailed in Popish
times, when the monasteries were almost the only centres of
enlightenment--if so it could be called.
Henry VIII. did little or nothing towards relighting the torch, which had
been held up by the monks, whom he abolished. His successor, Edward VI.,
founded a few grammar schools; among them being, in our own
neighbourhood, those at Spilsby, Louth, and Grantham. During the brief
reign of the Popish Mary, the movement was again checked; but Elizabeth,
herself a cultivated scholar, rekindled the general interest in
educational progress.
The title deeds of the school are unfortunately lost, which would have
shewn to what extent it was then endowed, but documents exist belonging
to the school, which prove the conveyance of certain lands, by John Neale
of Horncastle, in the 17th year of Elizabeth (A.D. 1575); he being one of
the first 10 Governors appointed in accordance with the rules of the
foundation.
A useful little volume was published in 1894 by the late Dr. Robert
Jalland, then Senior Governor of the school, containing its history, from
the date of the Elizabethan foundation, gathered from various documents
and minute books, preserved in the office of the Clerk of the Governors;
from which we cull the following particulars:
In the 13th year of her reign (1571), by Letters Patent dated at
Westminster, June 25, Elizabeth granted to her "well-beloved and faithful
counsellor, and subject, Edward Fynes, Knight of the most noble Order of
the Garter, Lord Clinton and Saye, High Admiral of England," that, at his
prayer, "a Grammar School should be established in the town of
Horncastle, for the good education of boys and youths, living there, and
about the neighbouring parts, habitants and comerants." {92a} This was
to be called "The Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, in the Town and
Soke of Horncastle of the foundation of (the said) Edward, Lord Clynton,"
&c., {92b} "to continue for ever." It was to consist of "a Master and
Sub-Master, or Usher," and the "lands, tenements, revenues, reversions,
and other hereditaments, for the support of the school, were granted,
assigned, and appointed," for their better management, "to 10 discreet
and honest men, who (should) be styled Governors."
The first Governors appointed were Clement Monk, clerk; John Smith,
clerk; John Sackeverill, gent.; Thomas Litter, gent.; Geo. Hargrave,
gent.; Thos. Raithbecke, yeoman; John Neale, yeoman; Thos. Hamerton,
yeoman; Willm. Ward, yeoman; Willm. Harrison, yeoman. They were
constituted "a body corporate," having a "common seal, to hold, to manage
the revenues of the school, and empowered to spend, and invest, the
income at their discretion," to appoint the teachers, and successors in
the governing body, as vacancies should, by death, occur.
The property of the school, either from the original, or later, {92c}
endowments, consists of lands, tenements, ground and quit rents, in
Horncastle, or in the Wildmore Fen allotment of the same, land and
tenement in Hemingby, lands in Winthorpe, Huttoft, Sutton, and in
Thornton a payment of 12 pounds a year in lieu of former land, {92d} with
certain moneys invested in Government Consols and Indian Stock.
The rental of the school property has varied at various periods. At the
time of the civil war, when the neighbourhood was more or less in a state
of anarchy, there is no record, for some years, of the Governors having
even met to dispense payments; and the Head Master's salary was only 10
pounds. In 1735 it amounted to 42 pounds, and that of the Usher to 21
pounds; but in 1753 there was a reduction to 30 pounds for the Head
Master, and 15 pounds to the Usher, owing to money having to be "borrowed
for the exigenceys of the school." In 1786 the income of the school rose
to 529 pounds; the highest point which it seems ever to have attained was
877 pounds, in 1854. In that year the Head Master's stipend is not
specified, but two years later it was 235 pounds, with capitation fees
amounting to 251 pounds odd.
In 1780 the Head Master was the Rev. C. L'Oste; he was also Rector of
Langton by Horncastle, and a good scholar. He published a translation,
in verse, of Grotius on _The Christian Religion_. It was printed at the
Cambridge University Press, dedicated to the Bishop of Lincoln, with a
very distinguished list of subscribers. {93} Differences arose between
him and the Governors, and in Sept., 1782, he was served with a notice to
quit, at the end of six months, for neglect of his duties. He refused to
give up office, counsel's opinion was taken by the Governors, Mr. L'Oste
pleaded in his own defence. The Governors gave notice of a trial at the
assizes. No result, however, is recorded, and Mr. L'Oste retained office
until his death in 1818.
[Picture: The Grammar School]
The year 1854 marked the close of the career of the most remarkable Head
Master who ever ruled the school. The Rev. John Bainbridge Smith, D.D.,
had entered on his duties April 10, 1818, succeeding Mr. L'Oste. Coming
to the post as an entirely unknown man, of comparatively humble origin,
but of great energy, he soon acquired a leading position in the town and
neighbourhood; becoming Rector of Martin, Rector of Sotby, and Vicar of
Baumber. He was the author of several standard works on Divinity. Under
him the school achieved such a reputation that, besides the day scholars,
he had a large number of boarders coming from Scotland, Ireland,
Devonshire, London, and even Jersey and France. His end was
unfortunately as remarkable as his career. Returning by train from
Lincoln he fell asleep, and being roused at Kirkstead by the porter
giving the name of the station, and the night being dark, he did not
perceive that the train was again in motion, and springing out of the
carriage, he fell a few yards beyond the platform and broke his neck.
The porter found him lying helpless, but alive, on the line. He was
carefully conveyed to his residence at Horncastle, and lingered alive
several weeks, retaining his mental faculties, but having no sense of
feeling below his neck. At length he recovered slight feeling in his
legs and feet, and probably tempted by this to make an effort to move, he
was found one morning dead in his bed.
The Duke of Newcastle, who owned property in Baumber (where, as we have
said, Dr. Smith was Incumbent), appointed him his private chaplain; and
the Doctor's youngest daughter, Sarah Katherine, married the Rev. Henry
Fiennes Clinton, a near relative of the Duke, and a descendant of the
founder of the school, Lord Clinton and Saye.
The school building has not always occupied the site on which it now
stands. As shewn in Stukeley's plan of the town, printed in 1722, it
stood in the north-east corner of the school yard. In 1772 that
structure was found to be in a ruinous condition, and the present
building was erected, being opened for use at Midsummer 1778. A
classroom was added at the south end in 1855, and more recently another
small room put up at the north end. The residence of the Head Master was
formerly a small low cottage, but it was considerably enlarged in the
early part of the 19th century, and in 1858 a new wing was added at the
north end.
In 1847 two "Clinton" Exhibitions were founded by the Governors, of 50
pounds a year, to be held for four years, by scholars going to the
University. For lack of such scholars this was granted to Clement Madely
Smith, youngest son of Dr. Smith, the Head Master, who studied for the
medical profession, in London. No further appointment however was made,
as in 1848 the Governors decided that they had no authority so to employ
the funds at their disposal.
On the death of Dr. Smith, in 1854, a new scheme of education, more
suited to the requirements of the time, was drawn up by a committee
appointed for that purpose, which received the sanction of the Charity
Commissioners, and was approved by the Master of the Rolls in the same
year.
The attendance at the school, however, gradually fell off, until, in the
year 1886, there were only 16 scholars; and further reforms were needed.
Since then changes in the system have, from time to time, been
introduced, to render the school more generally useful: the more recent
being the admission of female pupils in 1903, for whom was appointed a
resident lady teacher, Miss E. Gibson, who had matriculated, 1st class,
at London University.
Small Scholarships also, not exceeding six in number, were established
for needy pupils; and application was made to the Lindsey County Council,
for a grant of 80 pounds, in aid of scientific lectures, {94} under the
Technical Instruction Act of Parliament; so that a general middle-class
English education was provided, along with Latin, French, book-keeping,
and other technical subjects; an examination being held annually by some
one unconnected with the school, who should be approved of by the Charity
Commissioners. The school has thus, under the tenure of the Head
Mastership by Dr. Madge, of late years, been considerably improved, and
the area of the subjects taught, widened; assisted as he has been by the
able Second Master, Mr. C. W. Gott, B.A., London, and Miss Gibson. But
it has also been increasingly recognised that there was room for still
further development, if the institution was to take its proper position
among the endowed educational establishments of the county. This,
however, is a subject to which we shall recur hereafter.
In 1855 a school Library was commenced, the Governors granting 10 pounds
for the purchase of books; 20 pounds being given in the following year,
and this has been further enlarged in later years, until the books now
number nearly 500.
In March, 1893, a Magazine entitled _Banovallum_ was established, to be
mainly carried on by the scholars, the Editor being J. G. Meanwell,
Sub-Editor J. R. Cowburn. It was a monthly record of school work and
sports, with various other matters of interest. It was intended also to
be a link of connection between "old boys" and new; and with this view
former pupils of the school were invited to contribute. {95a} The
outside support, however, of such a publication was not sufficient to
render it a paying venture, and after an existence of rather more than
two years, it expired with the July No. of 1895.
Here we may fittingly introduce some personal reminiscences of the
school, and those connected with it, in its palmiest days, under the
regime of Dr. Smith, and first we may mention members of his own family.
Although, as before stated, himself of humble origin, {95b} he married
the daughter of a General Sandwith, a lady who was highly esteemed by all
who knew her. She bore him three sons and three daughters, and
predeceased him. His eldest son, Bainbridge, graduated at Cambridge
University, took Holy Orders, was at one time English Chaplain at Smyrna,
and succeeded his father in the Rectory of Sotby. He married a daughter
of Judge Haliburton of Nova Scotia, the author of _Sam Slick_, _The
Watchmaker_ (1839) and other works, which were popular in their day. The
eldest daughter, Frances, married a member of a then well-known
Horncastle family, the Rev. John Fawssett, a graduate of Cambridge, who
afterwards became in turn Rector of Minting and Vicar of Baumber with
Stourton. A second son, Joseph Coltman, became a Solicitor in Hull, but
died early in life. A second daughter, Isabella, married the Rev. W.
Affleck Peacock (named after his relative Sir Robert Affleck, of Dalham
Hall, Newmarket), Rector of Ulceby near Alford. The youngest daughter,
as already stated, married the Rev. Henry Fiennes Clinton, Rector of
Cromwell, near Newark, a near relative of the Duke of Newcastle, to whom
he was appointed domestic Chaplain. The third and youngest son, Clement
Madely, so named after his godfather, the esteemed former Vicar of
Horncastle, adopted the medical profession and went out to India, where
he became known as a keen sportsman among big game; a group of two tigers
shot by him, and stuffed by Ward the great taxidermist, being exhibited
in the Crystal Palace several years ago.
Of the scholars at the school, under Dr. Smith, we recall a few names, as
samples of the class of pupils whom he received. There were three
Sandwiths, Humphrey, Godfrey, and Henry, who were his nephews on his
wife's side. Humphrey became a surgeon, and having a taste for foreign
travel, went out to Constantinople to practice there. Having good
introductions he was kindly received by Sir Stratford Canning, the
English Ambassador, and making the acquaintance of Layard, he was invited
to travel with him to Mecca, Mosul, and Nineveh, at two of which places
excavations were conducted; as Hakim, or Doctor, he was visited by crowds
of Arabs, suffering from various ailments; and his quinine wrought
wonderful cures among them. When at home he sometimes surprised his
friends by suddenly appearing among them dressed in Arab costume. In
1855 he was at the famous siege of Kars, under General Fenwick Williams;
when a force of 15,000 English were shut in by an army of 50,000
Russians. The English had three months' provisions and three days'
ammunition; they suffered greatly from cholera, and after five months
surrendered, only when overcome by famine. Humphrey wrote a history of
the siege.
Of Godfrey we remember little; Henry graduated at Cambridge, took Holy
Orders and became Vicar of Thorpe Salvin, near Worksop. There were three
Inveraritys, Duncan, Henry, and William; the first of these went out to
India, and became a Judge in the Supreme Sudder Court. Henry devoted
himself to yachting, and died early. William held a commission in a
Highland Regiment of foot. Roseville Brackenbury, whose father, a former
Peninsular officer, and member of an old Lincolnshire family, resided
temporarily at Horncastle, in order to place his son under Dr. Smith,
entered the East India Company's service, in the Bengal Presidency.
There were three Buchanans, sons of an old Indian officer, Major
Buchanan, a Scotchman, but residing in Maida Vale, London. These were
James, Alexander, and Robert. James was a dashing, chivalrous,
high-spirited fellow, who took service in a Madras regiment of cavalry;
his brother "Alick" was of a different fibre, being chiefly remarkable
for the amount of treacle tarts which he could consume, at the shop of
the once well-known "Sally Dickinson;" the third brother, Robert, entered
the navy.
We may here mention, as evidence of the hard work which was done under
Dr. Smith's system, a feat of memory performed by two brothers among the
senior boys, Thomas and Alfred Cammack, which the present writer well
remembers, as he was present as a small boy when it occurred.
"Repetition," of one kind or another, was required of all boys; but these
two repeated to the Master from memory, the whole of the first book of
Milton's _Paradise Lost_ (798 lines), Thomas with only three promptings,
and Alfred with five. Another boy, Sidney Bousfield, did the same with
nine or ten promptings. Thomas Cammack walked his hospital in London,
and eventually became a consulting physician of some eminence, residing
at Boston; Alfred died early. Sydney Bousfield went out to India, and
died some years ago.
Two pupils, Holland and Forge, who came to study with the Doctor, of more
mature years than the ordinary scholars, were "crack shots," and welcomed
at many of the shooting parties in the neighbourhood. A third, Frank
Richardson, who was an ardent fox hunter, had his horse brought to the
door weekly, on the day when the meet was nearest, and was always among
the foremost in the field. He was, further, a great athlete, and would
follow the hounds on foot, and not seldom be in at two deaths in the day,
several miles apart; of him, it is related, that he leapt the school-yard
wall, nearly 7-ft. high. There were many more who were trained by the
Doctor to serve their generation worthily in various capacities, but let
these suffice as a sample of his influence.
The Under Masters whose services he enlisted were, further, not unworthy
of him. We will name one or two.
The first Under Master of whom the present writer has any knowledge was
Thomas Myddelton. He was by birth a gentleman, being connected with the
very old family of the Myddelton Biddulphs of Chirk Castle, North Wales,
who have now dropped the latter name, retaining only the Myddelton.
Thomas Myddelton's father, John M. (then dead), had been Rector of
Bucknall, in this neighbourhood, 1804-34; his grandfather, also named
Thomas, having been Vicar of Melton Mowbray; he (John M.) having been an
Exhibitioner of St. Paul's School, London, graduated B.A. at Sidney
Sussex College, Cambridge, 1782, and gained a Fellowship.
[Picture: Lord Clinton and Saye, Founder of the Grammar School]
Thomas also graduated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. While serving
as Under Master at the Grammar School he was ordained to the Curacy of
Bucknall, under his father's successor, the Rev. John Fendall. On the
occasion of his ordination he begged a whole holiday of Dr. Smith, and
treated the whole school to a day at Tattershall Castle; hiring carriages
to take them all, there being yet no railway; and he gave them a
substantial meal at the "Fortescue Arms" Hotel. He was naturally very
popular with the boys of the school, although he was rather a strict
disciplinarian, and made them work hard. He was commemorated in the
"Breaking up Song" of the school in the following lines:--
Mr. Myddelton now comes in,
With his nose above his chin; (two prominent features)
With pleasant smile he waves his cane,
As though to say, "I would fain refrain;
It grieves me sore to give a thwack
Upon the shrinking truant's back."
(CHORUS)
We're breaking up, and going away,
All for the sake of a holiday.
Jack's a dull boy without his play;
So, Hurrah, again, for a holiday!
He remained at the Grammar School about two years, afterwards taking the
Curacy of Langton with Wildsworth, near Gainsborough. He presently moved
to West Stockwith, holding the Curacy of Wildsworth with East Ferry. He
never held a benefice; but, having some private means, he continued to
reside, in retirement, at West Stockwith, until his decease, about 1880.
He was buried at Misterton, the adjoining parish, where he had also taken
occasional duty.
After Mr. Myddelton the next Under Master was William Hutchinson. He was
the son of the landlord of the principal inn in the neighbouring town of
Wragby, and had been educated at the small grammar school there. He was
appointed about 1845. He graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, as B.A.,
in 1848, keeping his terms there by permission, while acting as Usher at
Horncastle. In that year he left Horncastle, and was elected Master of
Howden Grammar School in Yorkshire, where he was also appointed Curate in
1848, being ordained Deacon in 1848 and Priest in 1849. While at
Horncastle he had married Miss Caroline Dixon, daughter of a corn
merchant; there were five daughters, all clever, the youngest being Miss
Annie Dixon, who became distinguished as a miniature painter, exhibiting
in the Royal Academy, and becoming a favourite of the late Queen
Victoria. He held the Head Mastership at Howden for several years;
holding also the Perpetual Curacy of Laxton near Howden from 1850 to
1855, the Perpetual Curacy or Vicarage of Airmyn from 1855 to 1862, when
he was appointed Vicar of Howden, which benefice he held till his death
in 1903.
It was somewhat remarkable that he began professional life in Horncastle,
famed for its great horse fairs, and passed the rest of his life at
Howden, also noted for its great horse fair. His wife is buried, with
two sisters, in the cemetery at Horncastle.
The next Under Master to be mentioned about this period was Francis
Grosvenor. He was the son of a respectable tradesman in the town, and
had been educated at the Grammar School. At first he was employed by Dr.
Smith as a supernumerary teacher of the junior boys, and became useful in
the temporary absences of Mr. Hutchinson, at Dublin University. He was a
conscientious and dependable youth, thoughtful beyond his years, and was
much valued by the Head Master, who was a shrewd judge of character. He
also graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, taking honours; and was
ordained Deacon in 1847, and Priest in 1848. He remained as Second
Master for some years at the Grammar School, being much esteemed among
neighbouring clergy for his unostentatious manners and general worth. He
frequently officiated in the Parish Church. Eventually he went to
Chester, as Curate of St. John's Church in that city, where he remained
many years, taking pupils. There was probably a talismanic attraction in
the name of Grosvenor; Eaton Hall, the seat of Lord Grosvenor (now Duke
of Westminster) being in the immediate vicinity. He was consequently
very successful in obtaining pupils; and made money, whereby he acquired
considerable house property there and elsewhere. He was devoted to
archaeological pursuits, and published a learned paper (of 16 pp.) on
"The early connection between the County Palatine of Chester and the
Principality of Wales," which he read before the County Antiquarian
Society. {99a} After many years' residence in Chester, he retired on a
competency to Epsom, in Surrey, where his mother, brother and sister
resided with him; and where he acted as Chaplain to the Union, until his
decease, about 1880.
The last Assistant Master, under Dr. Smith, whom we may name was John
Burton, born of humble parents in Peterborough. He was appointed about
1848, and served Dr. Smith faithfully about three years. He was not,
however, a strong man, either physically or mentally. His weakness of
character was shewn in an incident which might have had a tragic
termination. Having formed an attachment for a young lady, living near
the schoolhouse, and being rejected, he declared that he would commit
suicide; and he fired off a pistol under her window at night, taking
care, however, not to wound himself. On leaving the school he entered at
Jesus College, Cambridge, and graduated in 1853, dying soon afterwards.
On the appointment of the Rev. Samuel Lodge, to the Head Mastership in
1854, Thomas White, a graduate of St. John's College, Cambridge, became
Under Master. He had taken classical honours, and was an efficient
teacher, and rather strict disciplinarian. He was the first Under Master
allowed to take private pupils as boarders. He continued at his post six
years, taking Holy Orders, and in 1860 was presented by the Bishop of
Lincoln to the Vicarage of Scamblesby, which he held until his death in
1891.
It may be of interest if we here give some of the customs of the school
at this period, as samples of a state of things which is now past and
gone. The morality of some of them might be questioned in these days of
advanced ideas on civilization, but, under the guidance of a man of Dr.
Smith's mental calibre, their effect was the rearing of a generation of
manly youths, capable of much intellectual, as well as physical, activity
and endurance.
The Head Master was himself a remarkable instance of this. Punctually at
7.30, without fail, he was every morning in his desk at the school, to
open proceedings with prayer, it being frequently a race between himself
and his boarder pupils, as to who should arrive first, his residence
being some quarter mile from the school. When he closed the school, with
"abire licet," {99b} in the afternoon, he as regularly went for his
"constitutional" walk. Furious indeed must be the weather if Dr. Smith
was not to be seen on Langton Hill, summer and winter, rain or fair; if
the former he would brave the elements, wrapt in a large blue cloth
cloak, waterproof as his leather gaiters. If the latter, he would often
saunter slowly, rapt in meditation, or composing verses, an occupation of
which he was very fond, leaving behind him at his death several vols. of
MS. poetry. {99c}
The school hours were from 7.30 to 9, before breakfast; 10 to 12.30
midday; afternoon 3 to 5; while the boarders at his own house worked with
the Assistant Master from 7 to 9; the day boys, in the town, preparing
exercises and repetition for the next morning, at their own homes. It
was an amusement, for some of the more active, to get up some quarter of
an hour earlier than the others, and hurry down to St. Mary's Church, to
help old Dawson, the sexton, to ring the Grammar School bell. {100a} As
the Doctor was very active in his movements, any boarders who were late
in starting, could only reach the school in time, by running across the
fields between the two branches of the canal, called "The Holms." Woe
betide those who were late!
From the Doctor's energy of character it would be expected that he would
encourage active healthy recreations. The days of cricket were not yet,
{100b} although "single wicket" was sometimes practiced. Nor was
football popular, as it is now. The game was indeed played, but we had,
in those days, no Rugby rules, and the ball was composed of a common
bladder, with a leather cover made by the shoemaker. In the school yard
the chief game was "Prisoner's Base," generally played by boarders
against day boys; in this swiftness of foot was specially valuable.
There was also a game named "Lasty," in which one boy was selected to
stand at the upper end of the yard, while the rest gathered at the lower
end. After a short interval, the one boy darted forward towards the
others, who all tried to avoid him; his object was to catch one of the
other boys, and when he succeeded in this, the boy whom he caught took up
the running to catch another, and this could go on for any length of
time. There was another exciting game called "Lug and a Bite." In the
fruit season a day boarder, from the country, frequently brought his
pocket full of apples; he would throw an apple among the other boys, one
of whom would catch it, and run away biting it; the others would chase
him, and seize him by the lug (ear), when he would throw it away, and
another would catch it, and continue the process, he being, in his turn,
caught by the ear, and so on. This afforded much amusement, and many
apples would in this way be consumed. There were large slabs of stone
laid down in the yard, on which marbles were played with, and peg tops
were spun. Hockey, or shinty, as it was commonly called, was also a
favourite game; but these amusements were chiefly confined to the sons of
tradesmen in the town.
Among the boarders archery was practised, and by some of them with a
skill almost rivalling that of Locksley in Sir Walter Scott's novel of
_Ivanhoe_. A carpenter in the town made for us bows of lancewood, and
arrows of poplar, tipped with spikes of iron. With these we could not
only split our "willow wand" at 80 yards distant, but the more skilful
deemed an arrow hardly worth having until it had been baptized in the
blood of blackbird or pigeon, and some of the neighbouring pigeon cotes
suffered accordingly. The writer was presented with a bow made of
bamboo, and arrows said to be poisoned, which a great traveller, then
residing in Horncastle, had brought from the South Sea Islands. He lent
these to a brother archer, who by mistake shot another boy in the calf of
the leg. Great alarm was the result, but the poison must have lost its
power, for no evil consequences ensued, except that the wounded party
almost frightened himself into a state of fever.
[Picture: Successive Head Masters, from 1818 to 1907]
These, however, were among the less hardy of our sports. The good old
Doctor's great aim was to get us healthily engaged in the country. With
this object he would say on a Monday morning to the bigger boys of the
two highest classes, "Now, lads, if you will translate this book of
Virgil, or Homer, or this Greek play, as quickly as you can, you shall
have the rest of the week to spend as you like." Put upon our mettle by
such a challenge the work would be completed, by us perhaps on the
Wednesday, and three days of varied enjoyment in country rambles would
follow. In these days, when bird-nesting is forbidden as being "cruelty
to animals," it may horrify some of our readers to learn that the Doctor
encouraged his pupils to collect eggs. On our excursions in early summer
every hedge was carefully examined for many miles round, the tallest
trees were climbed, or, as it was then called "swarmed," in search of the
eggs of hawk, carrion crow, woodpecker, &c.; those of the owl were found
in the thick fir plantations, or those of the jackdaw in old ruins; the
rarest specimens being presented to the Doctor himself, while commoner
kinds were hung in festoons from the ceiling of our study at his
residence. The two chief holidays at this season were the Queen's
Birthday, May 24th, and "Royal Oak Day," May 29th. On these two days the
boys were expected to decorate the school in the early hours of the
morning; a _sine qua non_ being, that, on the Doctor's arrival at 7.30
a.m., he should find his desk so filled with floral and arboreal
adornments, that he could not enter it; whereat he would make the remark,
repeated annually, "Well, boys! you have shut me out of my desk, so we
must give up work for the day." He also, on these occasions, often
brought with him a daughter, and the two carefully looked into the
decorated desk, when they were rewarded by finding the nest and eggs of a
"feather-poke" (long-tailed tit), or some other rare bird, which he
always took home and preserved in his study, as a trophy till the
following year. No questions were asked as to _how_ the decorations were
obtained, but in practice the process was as follows. On the day before,
between school hours, certain of the younger boys were sent round the
town to beg flowers, and then, later on, followed what, as we should have
said, the present hypercritical generation would call, at the very least,
"dishonest pilfering." After retiring to rest, and when the final visit
of the Assistant Master had been made to the dormitories, all became
excitement; boots and caps had been carefully concealed under the beds.
The elder boys were quickly re-clothed, booted and bonneted; and we crept
down, by back stairs, to the kitchen, with the connivance of the cook and
housekeeper; those good souls also providing some refreshment for us, to
be taken either before we went out, or after we returned; and then,
stealthily emerging by the back door, we separated into small companies
of twos and threes; some re-visiting gardens in the town, and taking
without permission further flowers; others going into the country;
sometimes even taking a light cart from one yard and a pony or horse from
another, and then visiting gardens or parks in the neighbourhood, and
returning laden with branches of horse-chesnut flowers, pink may, &c.,
which were quietly conveyed to the school; and by the appointed hour the
work of decoration would be completed; and we, having returned to our
dormitories, refreshed through the cook's kindness the inner man, and
washed the outer, were ready to greet the good Doctor and his daughter on
their arrival. The only difference between the decorations on the 24th
and 29th was, that on the latter day oak leaves and acorns were a
distinguishing feature, some of the sprays having been gilded on the
previous day for presentation to the young lady.
There was another great day called the "Treasurer's holiday." Once a
year the one of the Governors, who held that office, was entitled to ask
the Head Master to give us a whole holiday, which he was always pleased
to grant. The custom was for one of the senior boys to call upon, or
write to, the Treasurer, usually after some period of extra hard
scholastic work, asking him to exercise this privilege. The way in which
these holidays were spent varied. Sometimes we had a "Paper Chase," or
"Fox and Hounds." One boy was sent out as fox, sometimes accompanied by
another boy, both carrying in bags a supply of paper, torn into small
shreds, which formed the scent. In this sport the Doctor sometimes
offered a reward of five shillings to the "fox" who should manage to
elude his pursuers until he had reached the bank of the river Witham, a
distance of about six miles, but increased to 10 or more miles by the
different ruses practised to escape capture; a similar reward being
offered to the "hound" who should effect his capture after a run of a
stipulated number of miles.
Sometimes we had a picnic to the Tower-on-the-Moor, going there on foot,
through "the Wilderness," and other woods, and having our luncheon
brought to the Tower in the carrier's cart, which passed daily on its way
to Kirkstead wharf. This was usually a bird-nesting excursion. More
than one of us accomplished the hazardous feat of climbing to the top of
the tower, whence a fine view could be obtained, on a favourable day,
across the Wash into Norfolk. On one of these occasions we extended our
ramble to Kirkstead wharf, some adventurous spirits took forcible
possession of the ferry boat, and carried over women returning home, with
their marketings, free of charge. The owner of the boat was, however,
compensated by our calling at his small hostel close by, and patronising
his lemonade, bread and cheese. Sometimes the excursion was to
Tattershall Castle, and if this was in the winter we skated there in the
morning, along the canal, returning on our "runners" by moonlight; the
Doctor being himself a good skater, encouraged it in his boys. On these
occasions we sometimes amused ourselves on the return journey by firing
pistols, to disturb the inhabitants of houses near the canal; when, if
anyone put his head out of a bedroom window, some one of us would shout,
"your money or your life;" the usual response being "Go along, ye
bulldogs," the name by which we were commonly known throughout the
country side.
On one of these return journeys, while skating in single file, we
approached the third lock, and the boy in front forgetting that there
would be no ice for a few yards below the lock, because the water there
was kept in agitation by the stream always falling from the lock,
suddenly found himself floundering in an icy cold bath, while himself in
a state of great heat. The shock, and the fact that he was cumbered by
his skates, made him almost helpless, and he would probably have been
drowned, but that a fine fellow (I give his name, Edward Sharpe, for he
has long ago put "off this mortal coil"), who was a great athlete,
plunged in, skates and all, regardless of the risk, and like a
Newfoundland dog, panting brought his friend to shore, with no worse
effects than the drenching to both. And here I may say that one of the
accomplishments specially encouraged by the Doctor was that of swimming;
the very youngest were taught to swim by the Under Master, in a small
pool in the river Bain, called "Dead Man's Hole," about 100 yards from
the first lock of the canal. After gaining proficiency we bathed in the
canal and lockpit itself. The Doctor gave a reward of 5/- to any boy who
could dive across the canal, the same sum when he could swim 100 yards on
his back.
On one occasion a bully, among the bigger boys, threw a timid little
fellow into the lockpit when full, saying "Now, you'll learn to swim, or
sink." The little fellow did sink, rose to the surface, and sank again;
and would certainly have been drowned, but a shout from other indignant
youngsters, looking helplessly on, brought the same Edward Sharpe to the
rescue (he was bathing below the lock, not aware of what was going on),
and he at once plunged into the lock, dived to the bottom (18 or 20
feet), and brought up the poor half-conscious boy, who would otherwise
have perished.
It may here be mentioned that the present writer once swam from the
junction of the two branches of the canal (close to the present bathing
place) to the first lock, then passed on and swam to the second, and so
continuing, swam to the third lock, his clothes being carried by a school
fellow who accompanied him; this being a distance of some two miles, for
this the Doctor rewarded him with 10/- and a whole holiday. He also, it
may be added, as a reckless feat, when bathing, leapt stark naked across
the first lock; a performance which the slightest slip might have made
fatal.
Many are the anecdotes which could be here told of our adventures; as of
policemen or keepers eluded, or put off the scent, by various ruses, &c.,
&c., on our various marauding expeditions, but I will mention only two
more incidents.
From the same feelings of jealousy, doubtless, which produce the "Town
and Gown" antagonism at the University, there was much ill-feeling among
the lower class of boys in the town towards ourselves, and free fights
occasionally occurred between them and the hated "bull-dogs." At dusk
stones were thrown at us, which it was difficult to avoid in the then
badly lighted streets. Sudden sorties were made from alleys, to take us
unawares, and send us sprawling on the coggles. Especially in snowy
weather we were assailed with snowballs on our way from school to the
Doctor's house, and although we stood shoulder to shoulder and made a
spirited resistance, it not uncommonly occurred that these missiles were
(doubtless purposely) made to contain a piece of ice, or even a sharp
flint. In one of these skirmishes the writer himself was struck on the
temple, his eye only just escaping, by a snowball, which a comrade picked
up, on seeing that the wound was bleeding, and a fragment of glass was
found inside it; this, surely, an extreme illustration of the principle
that "all is lawful in war."
One great event, of yearly re-occurrence, was our bonfire with fireworks,
on the 5th of November. Pocket money was hoarded up several weeks
beforehand, to provide for the latter; some boys even made their own
squibs and crackers, and these were considerably larger and more
formidable than those which were bought. The scene was usually a field
on Langton Hill, which belonged to the school. Subscriptions were raised
to purchase 100 faggots, locally called "kids;" but here again our custom
would, in strictness, have been condemned, for, in addition to the
purchased fuel, for sometime beforehand, we had been searching the hedges
around, armed with axes, and so had got together probably as much to
which we had no right, as that which had been bought. The bonfire was
thus doubled in size, and made a blaze which, on the hill, would be seen
for many a mile. We had a whole holiday to give us time to pile up the
heap; and in the evening parents and many other friends crowded to the
field as spectators. Sometimes a lighted balloon or two, of varied
colours, would be sent up, which were watched by the bright eyes of
sisters and cousins, until they were lost in the distance.
At length the conflagration was reduced to smouldering ashes, and all
retired; but on our way back to the school house there were often rough
doings, between the town boys and bull-dogs; free vent was given to
spite, and a broken or bruised head, or body, might be the result; but we
made no complaint; as loyal subjects we had done our duty in protesting
against all such underhand doings as "Gunpowder Plot;" and, after a
hearty supper, given by our kind Head Master, we enjoyed the rest, well
earned by the exertions and trials of the day.
We have now said enough of the school, its institutions and customs,
under a regime which has passed away, doubtless never to return; _tempora
mutantur_.
Of the modern school we may here say that it is now doing useful work,
although with a different class of pupils to those above referred to; and
in the near future, it is hoped, that further changes will give it a
still higher position in educational work. Under Dr. A. G. Madge, who
retired and accepted church preferment in 1907, the school was made to
meet the requirements of the Oxford and Cambridge local examinations, the
London University Matriculation, and the South Kensington Science and Art
Departments.
In late years boys from the school have filled posts in various parts of
the world with credit. A considerable number have obtained clerkships in
banks, or in the Civil Service; one boy, Richard Gordon Healey, passed
7th among more than a hundred candidates for the General Post Office
service, London, and is now in the excise service. Another, Fairburn, is
Assistant Inspector of Police at Singapore. Another, Isle, is a Civil
Engineer, and has taken the B.Sc. degree. A summary of successes at the
school, kindly supplied to the writer by Dr. Madge, shows that in the
last seven years (1906) five boys have passed the London University
Matriculation, 19 the Cambridge local examination, 34 the South
Kensington examination, while four have qualified for the public Civil
Service; a creditable result for a town of the size of Horncastle.
[Picture: The Seal of the Grammar School]
A recent change has been the admission of pupil teachers to classes
specially adapted to their requirements, and with this accession to the
numbers receiving instruction, there are now more pupils in the school,
male and female together, than at any period within the last 30 years.
The latest changes, in the direction of progress, have been as follows: A
new governing body has been created by the Board of Education, consisting
of 13 members; the Lord of the Manor, the Honble. R. Stanhope, being _ex
officio_ one of them; eight representative Governors holding office for
three years; two being appointed by the Lindsey County Council, three
(one of them a female) by the Urban Council, two by the Guardians, one by
the Justices of the Peace at the Lindsey Quarter Sessions. There are
also four co-optative Governors (among them one female at least),
appointed by the Governors for five years. It is further ordered that
the Head Master need not be in Holy Orders; under which rule has been
appointed the present Head Master, Mr. Arthur N. Worman, B.A., London,
late Assistant Master at King Edward VII. Grammar School, King's Lynn,
who was selected by the Governors from 150 candidates for the post.
Addendum I.
It will have been observed that we have so far adopted the prevalent
nomenclature, and spoken of this school as an Elizabethan institution,
founded in 1571. It must now be added that, venerable as that date of
origin would make it, it has a higher claim to our veneration still.
_Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona_. There were grammar schools before that
date. Edward VI. is said to have established several, in various parts
of the country, and we have already named two such in our own
neighbourhood, viz., those of Spilsby and Louth; but it is now known that
even these were, strictly speaking, revivals of still other institutions.
It is now known that not a few of the charities, or public institutions,
supposed to have been founded by Queen Elizabeth, were really of older
date, but revived, confirmed, or augmented, under her wise rule. In a
published account of the old grammar school of Giggleswick, Yorkshire,
{106a} commonly reputed to be a foundation of Edward VI., is the
following statement, "a large number of schools bear the name of Ed. VI.,
who undoubtedly desired to strengthen the grammar school system. His
good intentions were, however, frustrated by the Commissioners; and very
few of the so-called Edward VI. grammar schools had their origin in his
reign, being older foundations with a new name." {106b}
It seems certain that Horncastle Grammar School is an analogous case.
Documents have recently been brought to light in the archives of the Dean
and Chapter of Lincoln, which prove that, acting for the Chancellor (who
was _ex officio_ "Magister Scholarum"), during a temporary vacancy of
that office, they appointed Masters to the grammar schools of Boston,
Partney, Horncastle, and elsewhere, in the year 1329; the Horncastle
Master, so appointed, being one John of Beverley. This mode of
appointment being exceptional, was only to be valid for one year; but the
Chancellorship continuing vacant, the Masters were confirmed in their
positions by the Dean and Chapter, in the following year 1330, and again
in 1331; and so on, in successive years. {106c}
Now this mode of appointment being only in lieu of appointment by the
Chancellor, while his office was in abeyance, it follows that these
schools were in existence, as public institutions under the Chancellor,
before the dates named. Although, therefore, we are unable to fix the
exact period of the school's existence, it may be satisfactory for
Horncastrians to know that, in addition to the various interesting
associations which we have already given as connected with the school,
there is proof that before Shakespeare had composed one of his immortal
plays, before Spenser had written a line of his _Faerie Queen_, before
Bacon had even thought of his _Advancement of Learning_, there had
existed a "seat of learning" in the small provincial town of Horncastle,
which had then attained to the respectable age of more than two
centuries.
We have been accustomed to consider the foundation of William of Wykeham,
at Winchester, in 1373, as one at least of our very oldest, but
Horncastle Grammar School may even be of still earlier date than that.
The oldest school of all is King's School, Canterbury, attributed to
Archbishop Theodore, A.D. 670, but which may probably be traced to St.
Augustine. St. Peter's School, York, is the next oldest.
Addendum II.
The Governors of the Grammar School are about to erect, in this year,
1908, new and more commodious premises for the school, in the grounds of
what is now called "The Chestnuts," near the west end of West Street.