Kendal Grammar School
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 imrpoving 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, stongly 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."
