Public Schools in Newcastle, 1855

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

THE ROYAL FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL situated in Charlotte Square, was founded by Thomas Horsley, mayor of Newcastle, in 1525. Queen Elizabeth incorporated it in 1599, from which period until the year 1844 the business of the school was transacted in the old chapel of St. Mary's Hospital, West-gate-street. By the above-mentioned charter of incorporation, it is enacted that the masters and scholars shall be a body corporate in law, with perpetual succession, common seal, and power to purchase lands to themselves, and successors in fee-simple, or for a term of years, provided they exceed not the yearly value of £40. It is also enacted that the Latin and Greek languages are to be taught gratuitously. This school has attained considerable celebrity from the respectability and attainments of its teachers, and the many distinguished persons who have been educated within its walls. Among its eminent scholars, we find the names of Bishop Ridley, Mark Akenside, Lord Collingwood, Lord Eldon, and Lord Stowell. The following anecdotes of Lord Eldon may not be considered out of place here. They were related by his lordship himself to his niece, Mrs. Forster :- “I believe no boy was ever as much thrashed as I was. When we went to school we seldom had any time to spare, so Bill, the future Lord Stowell, and Harry used to run as bard as they could, but poor Jacky's legs not being so long or so strong, be was left behind. Now, you must know, there was eternal war waged between the Head School lads and all the boys of the other schools, so the Stockbriggers seized the opportunity of poor Jacky being alone, to give him a good drubbing. Then, on our way home, Bill and Harry always thrashed them in return, and that was my revenge, but then it was a revenge that did not cure my sore bones." The following is quite delectable in its way: ''Between school hours,'' (Eldon is still the narrator) "we used to amuse ourselves at playing at what we called 'cock-nibs' - that was, riding on grave-stones in St. John's Churchyard, which, you know, was close to the school. Well, one day, one of the lads came shouting 'Here comes Moises !' (the schoolmaster) - that was what we always called him, Moises - so away we all ran as hard as we could, and I lost my hat. Now, if you remember, there were four or five steps going down to the school, a sort of passage. Unfortunately a servant was coming along with a pudding for the bakehouse, and, in my hurry, when Moises was coming, I jumped down these. steps, and into the pudding. What was to be done? I borrowed another boy's great coat, and buttoned it over my own coat, waistcoat, pudding and all, and so we went into school. Now when I came out - I was in an unforeseen dilemma, for this great coat had stuck to my own - another boy's coat sticking to me and my own hat lost! - here was a situation! With great difficulty the coat was pulled off, but my father was very angry at my losing my hat, and has made me go without one till the usual time of taking my best into every-day wear." In the school are now taught Latin, Greek, French, Mathematics, Geography, English Grammar, etc. Principal, - Rev. J. Snape, M.A.

THE ROYAL JUBILEE SCHOOL is situated in the New Road, east of the Keelmen's Hospital. It was erected at an expense of £2,194, in 1810, to commemorate the fiftieth year of the reign of George Ill. It is a commodious stone fronted edifice, and depends for its support on voluntary contributions and donations. C.F. Springman, teacher. 

THE GIRLS JUBILEE SCHOOL is situated in Croft-street. It was erected in l814, at a cost of £1,000, having been instituted by the Duchess of Northumberland and a committee of ladies. This school is supported by subscriptions and donations. 

THE CLERGY JUBILEE SCHOOL was erected in 1826 at an expense of £2,300. It is situated on the east side of Carliol Square, and was founded in commemoration of Shute Barrington, Bishop of Durham, entering upon the fiftieth year of his prelacy. In the same building the scholars of ST. NICHOLAS’ CHARITY SCHOOL are educated. This charity was established in 1705, and now extends to forty boys, and the same number of girls, who are gratuitously clothed and educated. The boys on their leaving school to become apprentices, receive twenty shillings, with a bible, a prayer-book, and a copy of “The Whole Duty of Man.” The girls on going to service receive the same presents. John Brockland and Elizabeth J. Reed, teachers.

ALL SAINTS’ CHARITY SCHOOL is similar to that of St. Nicholas's, just described, in the number of its pupils, and the presents received by them on their leaving school. It was founded by public subscription in 1700, and is situated in close proximity to Jesus' Hospital in the Manor Chare. John Brewis and Ann Pescod, teachers.

ST. ANDREW'S SCHOOLS comprise a Charity, a National, and an Infant school. The former was founded by Sir W. Blackett, who bequeathed two thirds of the interest of £1,000 for the education and apprenticing of thirty poor boys of the parish, and the son of the founder added an annual sum sufficient for the clothing of the children. The revenue of this charity has been since augmented by numerous legacies, and the trustees, in consequence, have increased the number of boys from thirty to thirty-four. A similar establishment was founded in 1792, for the education and clothing of forty poor girls of this parish. The ST. ANDREW'S NATIONAL SCHOOLS are situated in Perey Street and Eldon Lane, and were erected in 1839. The boys' school occupies the ground floor, and the girls' school the first floor, while the infants occupy that portion of the edifice adjacent to Percy-street. The boys and girls of St. Andrew's Charity Schools am educated in this establishment. George Gibb, Mary Ann Bulloch, and Mary Veitch, teachers.

ST ANNS' NATIONAL SCHOOL is situated on the New Road, at the corner of Elswick Lane. It was erected at the expense of the municipality in 1682, and is chiefly supported from the revenues of the corporation. The mayor and governor of the Hostmen's Company are presidents, and the curate and lecturer of All Saints' Church, with four other gentlemen, are trustees. Stafford, teacher.

ST. JOHN'S CHARITY, NATIONAL, AND INFANT SCHOOLS. - The Charity School was established in 17l0, by Mr. John Ord, who bequeathed the rent of the Great Magdalen, or Mill Close, for its endowment. Its revenues have been since increased by other legacies, and twenty scholars are now clothed and educated gratuitously. These, on leaving school, are presented with the sum of forty shillings and three religious books. The school for this charity wag formerly situated in Cross-street, but on the erection of the National School, in Sunderland-street, in 1840, the pupils were removed thither. The Infant School is in Bath Lane, and is a neat building in the Gothic style, erected in 1838. Teachers, J. Forster and Jane Wilson, Infant School Annie Ellis. 

ST. NICHOLAS'S NATIONAL SCHOOL is situated in Queen-street. G. Grey Wilson and Elizabeth Brookbank, teachers.

ST. PAUL'S DISTRICT SCHOOL is in Elswick-street, John Jamieson, teacher.

ST. THOMAS' SCHOOL, Vine Lane, was erected in 1838, and contains two fine school-rooms, besides class-rooms, etc. Henry Page and Dorothy Ann Cole, teachers.

ST. ANDREW'S (CATHOLIC) SCHOOLS are situated in Carliol Square. They were erected principally by the untiring exertions of the Rev. J. Worswick and the Rev. W. Riddell, and were opened in the year 1833. These schools are in connection with the Committee of Council on Education, under whose authority thirteen pupil teachers, eight girls, and five boys, have been apprenticed. The average attendance is about 700 children. John Riordan and Mary Ann Hodgson, teachers.

THE CHOLERA SCHOOLS, situated in Rosemary Lane, were founded on the 9th of January, 1854. This institution has for its object the clothing, education, and part maintenance of the orphan children, whose parents fell victims to the cholera in 1853. It is supported by a fund, called the "Cholera Fund," amounting to about £6,000, which was raised by voluntary subscriptions. The average attendance is 132 children. Thomas Smith, and Octavia Outhett, teachers.

THE INFANT SCHOOL (ORPHAN HOUSE), Northumberland Street, was originally erected for a Methodist Chapel by the Rev. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and, at the time of its erection, was the second chapel which the Methodist body had built in this country. A portion of it was subsequently converted into an infant school, for children between the ages of two and six years. Ann Robertson, teacher. There is another infant school at the Sally port, Causey Bank. J. Lawson, teacher. 

THE RAGGED SCHOOL was formerly Gibson Street Chapel, but is now used, during the week-days, as a place of industrial education for children, who otherwise would be roaming the streets, and acquiring pernicious habits and practices. The Wesleyan Reformers meet here for worship on Sundays. John Morgan, and Sarah Coulson, teachers. 

TRINITY HOUSE SCHOOL for the education of the children of the poor, is attached to the Trinity House, Trinity Chare. The course of instruction in this establishment is very extensive, embracing writing, arithmetic, mathematics, etc. Thomas Grey, teacher. 

THE UNION GIRLS' SCHOOL is situated in Bath Lane, and is a fine stone edifice in the Gothic style, possessing sufficient accommodation for upwards of 100 children. It was founded in 1822. under the patronage of the congregations of New Court, Zion, Postern, Clavering Place, and Tuthill-Stairs, Chapels. Isabella H. Mackay, teacher.

ln addition to the above there are several other schools, both public and private, which our limited space will not allow us to describe more minutely. They will be found particularised, with the names of their respective teachers, under the head, Academics and Schools in the Directory. 

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