Opening of the Quadrangle buildings

This report appeared in The Standard on Saturday, 23 October, 1926 (note that "yesterday" in the article refers to Thursday, 21 October, 1926)

Boston Grammar School's New Buildings

Yesterday's Formal Opening by Sir Archibald Weigall: Surprise Visit of Lord Jellicoe

Details of the new extensions: Informative speeches

Boys' Enthusiastic Welcome to Distinguished Visitors

The commodious new buildings

Coupled with one's admiration for the new Boston Grammar School buildings, ceremoniously opened yesterday (Thursday) and occupied for the first time to-day - admittedly among the best of their kind to be found in Lincs. - must be a feeling of real surprise that the School has been carried on so well under the old conditions for so long.

When the School grew and lacked accommodation a few years ago, Haven House was taken over and adapted as well as might be to meet requirements. It proved a poor place for the purpose, but as a makeshift had to suffice. There has been one inefficient classroom off the old playground near the Headmaster's house. In Haven House itself the "Standard" when shown over the premises the other day by Capt H H Morris, at once perceived that things were much worse. The rooms are small and cramped and very dark. In the first classroom on the ground floor it was found that gas lighting was necessary during the hours of tuition. A second room was almost as bad. There was little or no ventilation. Two more rooms upstairs have been pressed into the service and made the best of. Everybody is thankful that the tenure of the place is at an end.

On the south of the playground stands the Science block built in 1904 and here the physical laboratory has had to be used as a classroom. The arrangement has been very unsatisfactory, as the boys cannot see the blackboard properly. The chemical laboratory has also had to serve as an unsuitable classroom.

205 Scholars

These arrangements have been absolutely necessary in view of the growing number of scholars, 205 this term, and with no other accommodation than that afforded by the old School. Until the new buildings came along the governors were at the limit of their resources in this respect, and the growth of the school was stopped. It is a marvel that the work has been continued so well with such a handicap. The venerable old School, like the extemporised classrooms just spoken of, will not be used for teaching again. Except for prayers, said there daily, the School will be a place of assembly, known as the School Hall, available as required for gatherings of various kinds.

The New Bulding

The lavatory at the north end of the School has been turned into a metre-room (sic) and caretaker's storeroom. At the other or South end, where once stood a glass partition, the space has been walled up, and the School War Memorial moved from the side to the centre over the door. The classrooms now disappear, and give way through into the playground on one side, and on the other into the new buildings. The School is connected with these buildings by a cloister which enters a corridor running round the quadrangle. On each side are cloak rooms and lavatories. Around the three sides of the spacious square are the buildings of brick, faced with stone, substantially built and very nicely finished with wood block floors, all woodwork of the best material, the rooms lofty and well lighted and ventilated, in striking contrast to the old order of things. The electric light is installed throughout, and the buildings are heated with hot water.

Electric Clock Installed

From the cloister on the south side we step into the corridor and come first to the Headmaster's room and lavatory. On the wall of this room is an electric clock which rings a bell in every other room of the buildings at certain periods. Upstairs is a Record Room, and there is also a nice airy room for the use of boys who take their mid-day meals to school. All the classrooms are adequately heated, and the heat in each room can be moderated or shut off independently of the others. As an example of the up-to-date equipment may be mentioned the blackboards, of finely-ground plate glass, and tilted forward from the walls. Single desks are in use. Two of the classrooms are for 20 boys, five are for 25, three for 30, and in addition there is the Art Room and the Manual Room. The total accommodation is for about 250. There is a Sixth Form Room, and over it the Library.

At the end of the corridor doors open out into the ground round the school, and opposite on the north side is a similar arrangement. Classrooms continue along the east side, behind the corridor which crosses the buildings, and in the north wing we find that the Art and Manual Rooms are specially lofty and well-lighted. The Manual Room will be used for carpentry, and there is even an electric gluepot provided. Later on metal work will also probably be done here. There is a Book Store on this side. The "Standard" in its explorations descended to the boiler house and coke store, near the old School end of the north corridor. Here are two compact boilers, and an electric motor pump, the latter for turning on from time to time to drive the hot water through the pipes, as it has a long way to go. The return is through Mr Hill's room and into the playground.

The old playground has been asphalted by the County Surveyor, Major Rogerson.

In the quadrangle of the extentions (sic) grass will be grown between the concrete paths, and this will give an air of freshness and colour to the surroundings. The ground round the buildings will be levelled, and by another season practice nets will be put up for cricket. Only a few items of furniture, which have been held up, are still required to complete the equipment of the new buildings, which are a model of their kind. Messrs W and H Vamplew appear to have finished the contract admirably in every way. The whole inclusive cost is about £23,000, and it will be shared by the Board of Education with the Holland County Council, who are responsible for the buildings. The architect was Mr H G Gamble, of Lincoln.

The Opening Ceremony

The new buildings were formally opened yesterday (Thursday) afternoon by the High Sheriff of Lincoln (Sir Archibald G Weigall, KCMG), the school hall. where the speeches were made being filled. Ald. T Kitwood (Deputy Chairman of the Governors) presided; and supporting him on the platform were Sir Arhibald Weigall, Mr J W Gleed (Chairman of the Holland County Council and Chairman of the Holland Higher Education Committee), Mr A W Dean, MP, the Mayor of Boston (Coun. A K Turner), Ald. A Cooke-Yarborough, Ald. A Porter, Dr R Tuxford, Mr J S Towell, G Webb, Mr C N Tunnard, the Rev. R O Hutchinson, Mr R J Harwood, Mr E J Deal, and Capt. H C Marris (Governors of the School), the Headmaster (Capt. H H Morris), Major O B Giles (Clerk to the Governors), Mr H J Gamble (the Architect), and Mr H H Champion (inspector of Secondary Schools).

Others who accepted invitation were: - Mrs Dean, Mr J Cheesewright (treasurer), Mr B Killingworth (Surveyor to the Governors), Ald. and Mrs Fitzalan Howard, the Rev J H Poole, Dr and Mrs Jennings, the Rev and Mrs Tingle, the Rev J B Cook, the Rev and Mrs Douthwaite, Dr and Mrs South, the Rev G K Wrigley, the Rev and Mrs R Olsen, the Rev and Mrs J Beanland, Dr and Mrs Rendall, Dr E M Turner, the Rev W E Thomas, Mr and Mrs F R Howes, Mr and Mrs F B Rice, Mr and Mrs R Gleed, Major W A Rogerson and Mrs Rogerson, Mr and Mrs Waring, Mr and Mrs G R Comer, Mr and Mrs A Hill, Mr and Mrs H P Clark, Mr and Mrs E W Bowser, Capt and Mrs C Mawer, Mr and Mrs Cox, Mr and Mrs G A Brough, Mr and Mrs Buffham, Capt and Mrs Howard, Coun and Mrs J Tait, Mr and Mrs E J A Christie, Coun and Mrs R Salter, Coun and Mrs W H Lunn, Mr and Mrs Worman, Coun and Mrs J Tooley, Ald. and Mrs C Day, Coun and Mrs F Peck, Mr and Mrs T H Richardson, Coun and Mrs G E Pinches, Mr and Mrs J W Cooke, Coun and Mrs J H Mountain, Mr and Mrs Warrick, Mr and Mrs W E Pearson, Mr and Mrs P J Templer, Mr and Mrs E H Andrew, Mr and Mrs J T Fyson, Mr and Mrs G Bird, Mr and Mrs Wain, Rev and Mrs Sexton, Miss Waldegrave, Mrs Gamble, Mrs Kitwood, Mrs J W Gleed, Mrs R Gleed, Miss Staniland, Miss Swain, Mrs G Jebb, Mrs R J Harwood, Mrs Cheesewright, Mrs W Porter, Mrs R O Hutchinson, Mrs H C Marris, Mrs E J Deal, Mrs Perkins, Miss Teanby, Mrs B Killingworth, Miss Shearme, Mrs J S Towell, Miss Ridley, Mrs C N Tunnard, Mrs Thompson, Mrs J R McKnight, Miss Malkinson, Miss Groom, Messrs Vamplew. Lieut Rice, and Messrs E W J Neave, J R McKnight, (Director of Education, Holland), G F Swain, G W Border, H C Goodbone, Maudson Grant (Director of Education, Lindsey), S C Simpson, P C Rysdale, E Brown, T W Dunn, C Garnham, C E Welberry, F Armstrong, C Robinson, J W Lockwood, G V Clark, S Bacon, E Waite, W H Mason, F B Thompson, A Walker, F R Bastick, P Kitwood, Rex Kitwood, S Lucas, J Cooke, E Sutcliffe, J B Anderson, S J Hurst, H G Woods, J B Ketton, F T Booth, R Fletcher, T A Marris, B C Roe, the Chief Constable (Mr L Johnson) and others.

Oldest old boy

The audience included many old boys. The oldest was Mr T W Dunn, of Cambridge, who was a master at the school 51 years ago. In addition to the Old Boys on the platform there were present the following:- Messrs A W Grocock, C H Adcock, J A Brough, F Shepherd, C Ingram, P Hipkin, H G Woods, T H Lincoln, T Yorkstone, G E Pinches, S Payn, F Thompson, A M Dring, A H Read, V Clarke, P C Rysdale, A Walker, B J Halliday, C Garnham, R E Tooley, R Anderson, A L Tait, R Sutcliffe, W Mason, T Rice, J L Towell, E Clarke, T Royal, S Clifton and F Clifton.

Lord Jellicoe and Lady Galway [?] were also present.

Site of old monastery

After expressing regret at the inability of Lord Yarborough to fulfil his engagement owing to the illness of Lady Yarborough, and also to the disappointment of the Governors in Mr Simpson not being able to be present, Ald. T Kitwood offered a cordial welcome to Sir Archibald Weigall. During the course of his public life he (Ald. Kitwood) had learnt that a chairman should be brief; but in consequence of his long association with the School, he thought he might have some licence on that occasion. For a long time past, the policy of the Board of Education in regard to secondary schools had been of such a character that the attendance at schools like that had been very materially increased. That applied to the whole of the country. They had to improvise various buildings to accommodate the pupils in that school, and he had no hesitation in saying that in recent years, part of the education of the Grammar School had been conducted on such lines as would not be tolerated in any elementary school in any municipal borough in the country, and it was realised that a large scheme was inevitable. It might interest many present to know that the school had been built on the site, or at any rate approximately the site, where an old monastery once stood and were [sic]] the friars of the Franciscan Order lived and laboured and died and were buried. He thought they must express their very great thanks to the Chairman and members of the Higher Education Committee for the sympathetic reception they gave to the extension proposals when they were placed before them. He thought they were justified, because as was well-known to the members, the Governors had not been very largely burdensome to the Education Committee, in comparison with some other Boards, so far as their claims for financial grants were concerned. He took that opportunity of expressing thanks to those who had been immediately concerned with the erection of the School, including Mr H H Champion, who in his tenure of office had had the duty of presenting the scheme to the Board, Mr McKnight, Mr Marris (Clerk to the County Council), who, with Mr Gleed, successfully negotiated the loan, and Mr Giles (Clerk of the Governors) for making the preparations for that day's ceremony. That ancient school, concluded Ald. Kitwood, had sent many into the world, many who had obtained much distinction in various ranks of life, and he had no hesitation in saying that with the new extensions they would resolve to impart to the rising generation that knowledge which enabled them to face life with a brave heart. (Applause.)

Ever increasing influence

The Headmaster said they had met on an occasion which he thought might be described as a landmark in the history of the school. During the centuries of its existence the school had seen many changes, and like most institutions had passed through vicissitudes of varying fortunes. Throughout its history it had faithfully served the education needs of the boyhood of Boston; and certainly during the past 70 or 80 years its history had been one of growth and ever-increasing influence. The new buildings they were opening that day not only marked that growth but also afforded opportunity, as occasion might arise for wider usefulness and still more valuable service.

Early history of the school

"Of the early history of education in this borough," Capt Morris said, "records are scanty. The first reference to a school here occurs in the Act of the Chapter of Lincoln, in which it is stated that on the 15th June, 1327, the Dean and two Canons, sitting in a certain low room below the Dean's chapel in his house discussed the collation of grammar schools in the County of Lincoln, which were vacant, and conferred the School of St Botolph upon one Robert, of Muston. This appointment was continued annually, at least, until 1335, in which year notices of the school cease. The next reference to a grammar school is found in Pardon granted by Poue [sic] Julius II to the people of Boston, at the instance of Thomas Cromwell, in 1510. From this we learn that the Guild of Our Lady maintained seven priests, 12 ministers, 13 beadmen, lights of the brotherhood, and a grammar school. For the finding of these members of the Guild were required, in return for the pardons, to contribute the sum of 5s 8d on entrance and subsequently 12 pence yearly. It is possible that it is from the Guild School that our Grammar School, which was founded by Queen Mary in 1554, may have developed, for the lands and possessions of the fraternity of the Guild formed part of the endowment granted to the Corporation for its maintenance. This hall, in which we are assembled, was built twelve years later. A stone slab over the entrance door records that 'in AD 1567, in the ninth year of Queen Elizabeth, Mayor and Burgesses of Boston, with one ad the same consent, built this school for the instruction of boys in pious letters, William Gannock being custodian of the staple and at that time Mayor' - the translation custodian is somewhat doubtful. For the next 300 years the boys of Boston were taught together in this hall, and it was not until the middle of the last century [19th] that extension was considered necessary, a south classroom being added in 1856 and a north one in 1865. The latter addition is commemorated by an inscribed slab placed over the porch entrance. Its Latinity was unfortunately somewhat marred by a mason who recut it several years ago. In 1904 the need of better facilities for the teaching of scientific subjects led to the erection on the south side of the playground of the science block, consisting of chemical and physical laboratories and a lecture room, and now very efficiently equipped. Those rooms will be opened for inspection this afternoon. Of the Five's Court [sic] I will only say that its lack of architectural beauty has in some measure been compensated for by its providing temporary if not altogether satisfactory accommodation as a classroom.

"With the increase in numbers during and after, the War, the existing buildings were found quite inadequate, and use was made of rooms in the adjoining Haven House. These rooms, however, were unsuitable for teaching purposes, and some eight years ago the School Governors prepared a scheme of extensions. Unfortunately the economy campaign, which laid an embargo upon all school building, prevented this scheme from being carried out. With the continued demand, however, for admission and the removal of the embargo, it was felt three years ago that new and suitable accommodation was so urgently necessary that it must if possible be provided. The support of the County Council was enlisted, and to-day we enter upon possession of an extensive and very worthy addition to the old School. The new building consists of ten classrooms, art and manual rooms, masters' rooms, prefects' room, library, boys' dining room, and cloakrooms. I am sure you will agree that they have been excellently planned, and that the work had been well carried out."

To be continued