List of English and Welsh endowed schools (19th century)

This is a list of some of the endowed schools in England and Wales existing in the early part of the 19th century. It is based on the antiquarian Nicholas Carlisle's survey of "Endowed Grammar Schools" published in 1818A Concise Description of the Endowed Grammar Schools in England and Wales, 2 vols. (1818) with descriptions of 475 schools but the comments are referenced also to the work of the Endowed Schools Commission half a century later. Most English and Welsh endowed schools were at the time described as grammar schools, but by the 18th century there were three groups: older prestigious schools becoming known as "public schools"; schools in manufacturing towns that innovated to some extent in syllabus; and more traditional grammar schools in market towns and rural areas.

A medieval grammar school was one which taught Latin, and this remained an important subject in all the schools, which generally followed the traditions of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, from which almost all of their graduate schoolmasters came. Some of the schools listed by Carlisle had long been fee-paying public schools, although in most cases (as at Eton and Winchester) retaining some provision for the teaching of "scholars" who paid reduced or no fees.

An endowment for educational purpose was intended by the founder or founders to be legally binding in perpetuity. However the object of such endowments was not always fully honoured by those controlling the schools.

Carlisle compiled his list by means of a questionnaire, which was not always answered. The Commission's report built on his research, while not accepting all his claims on the continuity of certain schools from monastic and chantry foundations, which affected the dating of schools. The chronological list in the report has numerous further details of endowments.

There is little consistency in the actual names of grammar schools from this period. Many were called "free schools". Carlisle used some unorthodox spellings, and he listed Hampshire under its alternative historical name of Southamptonshire.

Bedfordshire Standard nameOther namesFoundationStatus nowCommentsReferences Bedford Grammar School Bedford School 15 August 1552 Independent Sir William Harpur Knt, alderman of London, endowed the school in the name of the Commonalty of Bedford, with letters patent granted by King Edward VI. Visitors were elected from the warden and fellows of New College, Oxford. Harpur stood surety of 13 acres and 1 rood of meadow in St Andrew, Holborn for the letters patent. An act of Parliament of 1764 granted 12 acres and a rood on a case decision reserved in chancery to Sir Thomas Fisher, Bt. This land became housing called the Charity Estate. Another act, in 1793, made the town corporation responsible for "repairing leases". New College, Oxford controlled the appointment of master and usher. Houghton Conquest Grammar School 5 June 1632 Maintained Lower ('Primary') School Sir Francis Clerke, MA Cantab, was the founder around 1630, when an almshouse and close (6 acres and 4 small closes called the pighties) were conveyed by deed of title. The school was located in the upper rooms of the alms house. Masters were from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. It was formerly a flourishing school that sent scholars to university. An endowment of lands valued at £140 was bequeathed in 1691; In 1720 described thus "here is a publick school endowed...". Trustees included the Earl of Upper Ossory and the Duke of Bedford. In an account published by the Bedfordshire County Records Archive Office, there is continuity shown between the old endowed school and the current local maintained school, Houghton Conquest Lower School The old school and almshouses were demolished in 1970. V.C.H. Beds, ii, 180, 182, n. 33.

Berkshire For Eton College see Buckinghamshire. Standard nameOther namesFoundationStatus nowCommentsReferencesAbingdon Grammar SchoolRoysse's School; Abingdon School1562 Independent A benefaction by John Roysse, citizen and mercer of London was to an existing grammar school. Two houses in Birchin Lane were bequeathed to Dr Abbott, Archbishop of Canterbury, for his foundation, intended for Balliol College; letters patent were granted on 22 June 1624; and the foundation was further endowed by William Bennet of Christ's Hospital in Abingdon. Childrey Grammar School The Fettiplace School 1515 Defunct A chantry foundation by William Fettiplace of Childrey, it survived as a school in Chantry House, Childrey until 1726. A new schoolhouse was built in 1732 by Sir George Fettiplace, and kept repaired by Queens College, Oxford, who paid £8 per annum to the schoolmaster. The visitors were the Rector and Scholars of Lincoln College, Oxford. In 1913, the school converted to a primary school. The buildings were closed in the 1940s. Newbury Grammar School St Bartholomew's School 1466 Comprehensive Academy Originally attached to St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, it was reported on the death of the master on 3 November 1614 that the school was defunct. A new grammar school was granted a charter in 1677. Reading Grammar SchoolReading School1445Grammar School AcademyAccording to Carlisle's account between 1445 and 1486 a school was founded by John Thorne, Abbot of Reading on instruction from Henry VII. Subsequently, after the dissolution of the monasteries the master was paid by the Crown. In 1557 Sir Thomas White founded two scholarships at St John's College, Oxford. As stated in a charter of 23rd Sept 1560 the town corporation took responsibility for the school in exchange for the grant of lands by the Crown. Archbishop Laud was a benefactor of the school and appointed three visitors 'viz-The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, The President of St.John's, and the Warden of All Souls College'.Wallingford Grammar SchoolWallingford School 1659 Comprehensive Academy Founded by Walter Bigg, alderman of London, and endowed with £10 p.a. A further £20 p.a. was contributed by Sir Thomas Bennett's Charity. Wantage Grammar SchoolKing Alfred's Grammar School, King Alfred's Academy 1597 Comprehensive AcademyWantage town lands held by trustees maintained a grammar school master by an act of Parliament, 39 Eliz (AD 1597). Prior to 1849 the school was located in the town's churchyard. In that year, the millenary of the birth of King Alfred it took the new name and moved to a new site. Carlisle (1818) states "that no Charity can be better managed, or the profits disposed more to the Donor's intentions, than the present"

Buckinghamshire Standard nameOther namesFoundationStatus nowCommentsReferencesAmersham Grammar School Dr Challoner's Grammar School 1621 Boys' grammar school with academy statusFounded under the will of Robert Chaloner DD. The rector, canon of Windsor, on 20 June 1620, bequeathed £90 by his will and £20 p.a., for the maintenance of a divinity lecturer at Christ Church, Oxford. The free grammar school was established by decree of the Commission of Charitable Uses. Of the pupils, three poor scholars hailed from Goldsborough and Amersham, and Knaresborough, Yorks.Aylesbury Grammar School1598Boys' grammar school with academy statusA free school was founded by Sir Henry Lee of Ditchley, Oxfordshire around 1584. The documents in Oxford were destroyed in the Civil War in the 1640s, but the premises were bequeathed to the school around 1700. A further endowment was entailed by Henry Phillips, and a free school built in 1718.Buckingham Grammar SchoolThe Royal Latin School1423Coeducational grammar school with academy statusRefounded by Edward VI in 1548 with an endowment of £10 8s. 1/2d.per annum.Eton CollegeFounded as The King's College of The Blessed Marie of Etone besides Wyndsor12 September 1440IndependentUnusually founded by three successive charters in 1441 and 1442. The hope that the foundation would be permanent was represented by the motto Esto perpetua and (according to the lore) by the sable background in the college's coat of arms. The original buildings were in part constructed of durable Kentish stone. King Henry VI founded the college, "habentes in animo ut in secula duraturum jam fundatum Collegium..." It was confirmed by act of Parliament on 4 May 1444; and statutes were finalised by Archbishop Waynflete, schoolmaster of Winchester, and founder of Magdalen College, Oxford, on 20 July 1446. Edward IV issued letters patent on 17 July 1468; and granted a lands purchase under the Statutes of Mortmain. Under the papal Bulla Unionis he added an eighth dean to those canons of Windsor. The college's endowments were much reduced by Edward IV after the death of Henry VI.Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe1548Boys' grammar school with academy status Town burgesses confirmed the endowment of a school in 1551, but it did not receive a royal charter until 21 July 1562. The master was endowed with a house, garden and orchard of two acres. "Good instruction" followed in Latin.Marlow Grammar SchoolSir William Borlase's Grammar School1624Coeducational grammar school with academy statusFounded by Sir William in memory of Henry Borlase MP on his son's death in 1624. By Sir William's will of October 1628, the school was endowed with lands in the parish, and at Bix Gibwin, Oxfordshire. The governor was customarily the lord of the manor of Davers.

Cambridgeshire Standard nameOther namesFoundationStatus nowCommentsReferencesCambridge Grammar SchoolThe Perse School 1615 Independent Founded by Stephen Perse MD, senior fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. The founder's scholarship favoured entrants to that college. By 1615 there was room for 100 scholars, natives of Cambridge, Barnwell, Chesterton, or Trumpington.Ely Grammar SchoolThe King's School, Ely, King's Ely c. 970, refounded 1541 IndependentEly's master was appointed by the dean and chapter of the cathedral. Now a boarding school.Wisbech Grammar School 1379 IndependentFounded by the Holy Trinity Fraternity of monks. At the Reformation, parliament granted the town and Capital Burgesses a charter and master on an ecclesiastical stipend of £12. Rents of £30 p.a. were used to fund the school by the will of John Crane, in lieu of land tax. Further endowed by Thomas Parke, High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire (1628), and bye-fellowships to Peterhouse College. The fund was later vested with the accountant-general of chancery by the will of William Holmes of Exeter (2 April 1656).

Cheshire