Kendal Grammar School

Established in 1525 it probably first used the parish church for lessons but in 1888 moved to 9 Church Walk which was given to the school by Miles Philipson. It moved to the current Aynam Road site, built in 1888 and opened in 1889, where it now operates as a Business and Enterprise College.

Curwen, 1900 p 169-174

Grammar School

This ancient school; was founded by Adam Penyngton, of Boston, Lincolnshire, who by Will, dated March 1525, devised £10 for the term of ninety-eight years, to be paid as a stipend or wage for the funding of a priest, being an able schoolmaster, to teach a Free School in the town of Kendal, to be paid out of certain lands in the County of Lincolnshire.

King Edward VI., in the year 1548, appointed some Commisioners to take order for the maintenance and continuance of the schools and other foundations, whose revenues were vested in the Crown. They "ordained that the Grammar School which long before had been kept in Kirkbie Kendall, should there be continued, assuring the master there to have for his wages, yearly, the said £10," Upon a complaint being made by the schoolmaster in 1557 that his stipend had been withheld, a decree was made of the Barons of the Exchequer that the same should be paid by the Receiver of the County of Westmorland, with all arrears. The revenue of the school was further augmented by a decree of the Court of Exchequer, made 12th of May, 1582, reciting two several stipends of £4 12s. 10d. each, hitherto paid for the maintenance of two curates now no longer needed by the Vicar, should be allowed in augmentation of the schoolmaster's wages.

Miles Philipson, of Crook, by indenture dated the 26th of January, 1588, gave and granted unto James Wilson, Alderman, a parcel of ground, being part of the grounds belonging to Abbott Hall, together with one house standing on the said ground for a Free School, "for godly and virtuous education, instruction, and institution of youth of the said town and parish of Kendal, in grammar and other good learning." The school was built by public subscription, and the Boke of Recorde gives a list of donations towards the fund between the years 1582-8. Besides these, Earl Ambrose and the Countess of Warwick gave towards the building "six fair oke tymber trees," and the inhabitants gave balks of timber and planks; whilst others gave by leading stones.

The famous Bernard Gilpin most willingly in "godlie zeale," as he himself says, bore his part in raising the school, as appears from the following letter, which can never be too often quoted:-

"To his verie lovinge freindes in Christe, master Alderman of Kendall. Most due commnedacouns premised I am righte glade to heare that your godlie suite for a grammer schoole is like to come to a good ende and so soone as I shal be certified yt it is well established I shall most willinglie perfourme my promise with such spede as I may convenientlie. But I am so over charged with manye paymentes as this bearer can certifie you that I staunde nede to have a quarters warning to provide any payment. And although your schoole should not come to a perfectioun accordinge to your firste determinatioun yete for godlie zeale you all beare to learninge and ye great charges wch I thinke you have already sustayned I will bear a parte with you as shal be thought convenient. And thus trustinge bothe to heare from you and to write to you againe shortlie at better Leysure O praye god preserve you all and prosper your good and godlie worke in his honour. At Houghton this XXVIIIth of June Ao. 1582. Youres alwaye in Christe to his power. Bernard Gilpin."

Three hundred years have passed away since the erection of this interesting building, and from the solidity and thickness of the walls (in which three ancient coins have been found) it may yet outlive many generations. Adam Shephard, who had been incumbent of St. Mary's Chantry in the Parish Church, and who was paid a pension of £3 6s 8d on 1553 as a displaced priest, was the schoolmaster in 1548, but where his pupils first met is not definitely known. Most probably, as was the case in many country towns, they learnt their lessons in the church itself. In 1641 I find Robert Vicars mentioned as Usher, and as Master, J. Myriell in 1653, - Jackson in 1680, and John Towers in 1733.

Here is an interesting extract from the Cumberland Pacquet for May 28th, 1774: - "The free Grammar School of Kendal being vacant by the Resignation of the Rev. Mr. Gilbert Crackenthorpe, the Trustees give Notice that they intend to choose a Master on Monday, the 2nd day of July next; any Person that is properly qualified and desirous of offering himself a Candidate for the same may send a Testimonial for his Character to Thomas Strickland, Esq., Mayor of Kendal. The Salary is £35 per Annum, with neat and commodious Dwelling House, and from the situation, Trade and Populousness of the Place and adjacent Country, the supposed other Emoluments to a diligent Man would be very considerable; together with a fair and promising Prospect of a well-endowed Chapel on the first Vacancy being annexed." What a delightful enticement ! Thirty-five pounds, populousness of the place, extra work, and a prospective curacy. I wonder how many applied !

In the year 1801, I find the Rev. George Kendall mentioned as the Master, which post he held until 1804, when the Rev. John Sampson was appointed. He died on the 27th March, 1843, having been Master for nearly forty years. His course of instruction was confined to the Greek and Latin languages, excepting upon two afternoons in the week, when scholars were exercised in English, reading, and arithmetic. The Corporation then elected as his successor the Rev. Francis Danby, B.A., who re-opened the school in April, 1844; the interval being occupied in repairing and improving the school-house and premises. Danby resigned the office of Master in 1845, and the Rev. James Frederick Black was appointed by the Council in his room, on the 9th of December. In the year 1868 the colour was changed, Mr. Joseph Brown being appointed.

I would gladly linger to give a fuller account of this school and of the eminent scholars formerly educated here such as Ephraim Chambers, Dr. Shaw, Edmund Law, D.D., Bishop of Carlisle (1702-1787); Peter Barwick, and in later years of the seven contemporary lads of Sampson's time, viz.:-

(1) J, Hubbersty, Wrangler and Fellow of Queens's College, Cambridge.

(2) Job Rawlinson, Wrangler and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

(3) Dr. Audland, Fellow of Queen's College, Oxon.

(4) Dr. Wilson, Wrangler and Fellow of John's College, Cambridge.

(5) W. A. Fletcher, Fellow of Magdelen College, Cambridge.

(6) R. Thompson, of Trinity College Cambridge.

(7) Dr. Cuckson, Wrangler, Fellow and Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University.

But as the scope of these pages is more with the building than with the scholars, it must suffice to record that the ancient ceremony of "barring-out" in which the boys used to take possession of the school early on the morning of breaking-up days, strongly barricade the doors from within, arm themselves with elder pop-guns, and defy admittance to the master, saying:-

"Liberty, liberty, under a pin,

Six week's holiday, or nivver come in."

Many were the stratagems employed by the luckless master in order to gain possession again of his lost authority. One says he remebers the master entering by creeping down the chimney; another tells of the boys hiding themselves in the chimney when the master did happen to force the door. Of he succeeded heavy tasks were imposed, and the business of the school went on as usual; but, if the boys triumphed, terms of capitulation were proposed stipulating the length of the holiday and what hours and times should be allotted to study for the ensuing term. Securities seem to have been given by both side for the due performance of these stipulations, and the paper passing to and fro beneath the door was duly signed by both master and pupils. Apparently the custom was killed at the beginning of the XVIIIth Century by a master ofthe name of Towers having his eye accidentally destroyed whilst contending for the mastery.

One of the regulations of the school was that it should be "free to all boys resident in the parish of Kendal for classics alone, excepting a voluntary payment of a cockpenny as aforetime at Shrovetide." The Carity Commissioners reported in 1844 that "no demand is made for any payment; but it is a general practice to make a present at entrance, and another at Shrovetide, under the name of a Cockpenny. The usual sum is a guinea, but some boys pay more and some less. Sometimes nothing is paid, but the children are non the less attended to on that account." The "Literary Rambler," who contributed a series of articles to the Kendal Chronicle in 1812, at the time when the custom of cock-fighting was still in vogue, remarks that "the boys of each school were divided into parties every Shrovetide, headed by their respective captains, whom the master chose amongst his pupils. These juvenile competitors contended in a match of football, and fought a cock-battle - called a captain's battle - in both of which contests the youthful rivals were not more interested than their parents."

The master, providing the cocks, levied this pence and thereby added considerably to his income, as also by the sale of entrance tickets to visitors to witness the "sports." At Sedbergh Grammar School the master received on Shrove Tuesday 4 1/2d. from each pupil, and at Grange, at the commencement of this century, the pence varied in amount according to the social standing of the parents, ranging from 2s. 6d. to £5. The cock-pit at Heversham was in existence down to recent times.

But such happy days have long passed away, the school itself has migrated to new premises outside the town, and the whole building has been turned into a cottage property. The ancient porch has now become a Sunday parlour, and over it Sampson's den for study is now a place for sleep. A new scheme for the management of the school was approved in April, 1869, by which it was arranged that the head master should not necessarily be a University graduate or in holy orders; and in 1886 the Charity Commissioners approved a further scheme by which the funds of the school were amalgamated with those of the Sandes' Hospital and the Blue Coat School, and placed under one governing body called "The Governors of the United School and Hospital Foundation of Kendal."

The new school buildings were erected in 1888, capable of accommodating about 150 boys, and they were opened on the 10th day of January, 1889, by James Whitehead, Lord Mayor of London, and the Lord Bishop of Carlisle. The master's house was added in 1893 for 40 borders.

References

The history of elementary and secondary education in Westmorland 1870-1914 Marker, W. B. (1967) Masters thesis, Durham University