# A History of Horncastle from the Earliest Period to the Present Time/Chapter 6

CHAPTER VI.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
AVING dealt with the places of worship in the town, we now proceed to give an account of its schools; and among these the Grammar School, from its antiquity, as well as for other reasons, claims precedence.
This Institution, on its present foundation, dates from the reign of Elizabeth, one of whose special characteristics was her warm interest in education, which led her to encourage her nobles, and more wealthy subjects, to promote the cause. The Reformation had given an impetus towards emancipation from the ignorance which prevailed in Popish times, when the monasteries were almost the only centres of enlightenment—if so it could be called.
Henry VIII. did little or nothing towards relighting the torch, which had been held up by the monks, whom he abolished. His successor, Edward VI., founded a few grammar schools; among them being, in our own neighbourhood, those at Spilsby, Louth, and Grantham. During the brief reign of the Popish Mary, the movement was again checked; but Elizabeth, herself a cultivated scholar, rekindled the general interest in educational progress.
The title deeds of the school are unfortunately lost, which would have shewn to what extent it was then endowed, but documents exist belonging to the school, which prove the conveyance of certain lands, by John Neale of Horncastle, in the 17th year of Elizabeth (A.D. 1575); he being one of the first 10 Governors appointed in accordance with the rules of the foundation.
A useful little volume was published in 1894 by the late Dr. Robert Jalland, then Senior Governor of the school, containing its history, from the date of the Elizabethan foundation, gathered from various documents and minute books, preserved in the office of the Clerk of the Governors; from which we cull the following particulars:
​In the 13th year of her reign (1571), by Letters Patent dated at Westminster, June 25, Elizabeth granted to her "well-beloved and faithful counsellor, and subject, Edward Fynes, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, Lord Clinton and Saye, High Admiral of England," that, at his prayer, "a Grammar School should be established in the town of Horncastle, for the good education of boys and youths, living there, and about the neighbouring parts, habitants and comerants." This was to be called "The Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, in the Town and Soke of Horncastle of the foundation of (the said) Edward, Lord Clynton," &c., "to continue for ever." It was to consist of "a Master and Sub-Master, or Usher," and the "lands, tenements, revenues, reversions, and other hereditaments, for the support of the school, were granted, assigned, and appointed," for their better mangement, "to 10 discreet and honest men, who (should) be styled Governors."
The first Governors appointed were Clement Monk, clerk; John Smith, clerk; John Sackeverill, gent.; Thomas Litter, gent.; Geo. Hargrave, gent.; Thos. Raithbecke, yeoman; John Neale, yeoman; Thos. Hamerton, yeoman; Willm. Ward, yeoman; Willm. Harrison, yeoman. They were constituted "a body corporate," having a "common seal, to hold, to manage the revenues of the school, and empowered to spend, and invest, the income at their discretion," to appoint the teachers, and successors in the governing body, as vacancies should, by death, occur.
The property of the school, either from the original, or later, endowments, consists of lands, tenements, ground and quit rents, in Horncastle, or in the Wildmore Fen allotment of the same, land and tenement in Hemingby, lands in Winthorpe, Huttoft, Sutton, and in Thornton a payment of £12 a year in lieu of former land, with certain moneys invested in Government Consols and Indian Stock.
The rental of the school property has varied at various periods. At the time of the civil war, when the neighbourhood was more or less in a state of anarchy, there is no record, for some years, of the Governors having even met to dispense payments; and the Head Master's salary was only £10. In 1735 it amounted to £42, and that of the Usher to £21; but in 1753 there was a reduction to £30 for the Head Master, and £15 to the Usher, owing to money having to be "borrowed for the exigenceys of the school." In 1786 the income of the school rose to £529; the highest point which it seems ever to have attained was £877, in 1854. In that year the Head Master's stipend is not specified, but two years later it was £235, with capitation fees amounting to £251 odd.
​In 1780 the Head Master was the Rev. C. L'Oste; he was also Rector of Langton by Horncastle, and a good scholar. He published a translation, in verse, of Grotius on The Christian Religion. It was printed at the Cambridge University Press, dedicated to the Bishop of Lincoln, with a very distinguished list of subscribers. Differences arose between him and the Governors, and in Sept., 1782, he was served with a notice to quit, at the end of six months, for neglect of his duties. He refused to give up office, counsel's opinion was taken by the Governors, Mr. L'Oste pleaded in his own defence. The Governors gave notice of a trial at the assizes. No result, however, is recorded, and Mr. L'Oste retained office until his death in 1818.
The year 1854 marked the close of the career of the most remarkable Head Master who ever ruled the school. The Rev. John Bainbridge Smith, D.D.,
The Grammar School.
had entered on his duties April 10, 1818, succeeding Mr. L'Oste. Coming to the post as an entirely unknown man, of comparatively humble origin, but of great energy, he soon acquired a leading position in the town and neighbourhood; becoming Rector of Martin, Rector of Sotby, and Vicar of Baumber. He was the author of several standard works on Divinity. Under him the school achieved such a reputation that, besides the day scholars, he had a large number of boarders coming from Scotland, Ireland, Devonshire, London, ​and even Jersey and France. His end was unfortunately as remarkable as his career. Returning by train from Lincoln he fell asleep, and being roused at Kirkstead by the porter giving the name of the station, and the night being dark, he did not perceive that the train was again in motion, and springing out of the carriage, he fell a few yards beyond the platform and broke his neck. The porter found him lying helpless, but alive, on the line. He was carefully conveyed to his residence at Horncastle, and lingered alive several weeks, retaining his mental faculties, but having no sense of feeling below his neck. At length he recovered slight feeling in his legs and feet, and probably tempted by this to make an effort to move, he was found one morning dead in his bed.
The Duke of Newcastle, who owned property in Baumber (where, as we have said. Dr. Smith was Incumbent), appointed him his private chaplain; and the Doctor's youngest daughter, Sarah Katherine, married the Rev. Henry Fiennes Clinton, a near relative of the Duke, and a descendant of the founder of the school. Lord Clinton and Saye.
The school building has not always occupied the site on which it now stands. As shewn in Stukeley's plan of the town, printed in 1722, it stood in the north-east corner of the school yard. In 1772 that structure was found to be in a ruinous condition, and the present building was erected, being opened for use at Midsummer 1778. A classroom was added at the south end in 1855, and more recently another small room put up at the north end. The residence of the Head Master was formerly a small low cottage, but it was considerably enlarged in the early part of the 19th century, and in 1858 a new wing was added at the north end.
In 1847 two "Clinton" Exhibitions were founded by the Governors, of £50 a year, to be held for four years, by scholars going to the University. For lack of such scholars this was granted to Clement Madely Smith, youngest son of Dr. Smith, the Head Master, who studied for the medical profession, in London. No further appointment however was made, as in 1848 the Governors decided that they had no authority so to employ the funds at their disposal.
On the death of Dr. Smith, in 1854, a new scheme of education, more suited to the requirements of the time, was drawn up by a committee appointed for that purpose, which received the sanction of the Charity Commissioners, and was approved by the Master of the Rolls in the same year.
The attendance at the school, however, gradually fell off, until, in the year 1886, there were only 16 scholars; and further reforms were needed. Since then changes in the system have, from time to time, been introduced, to render the school more generally useful; the more recent being the admission of female pupils in 1903, for whom was appointed a resident lady teacher, Miss E. Gibson, who had matriculated, 1st class, at London University.
Small Scholarships also, not exceeding six in number, were established for needy pupils; and application was made to the Lindsey County Council, for a grant of £80, in aid of scientific lectures, under the Technical Instruction Act of Parliament; so that a general middle-class English education was provided, along with Latin, French, book-keeping, and other technical subjects; an examination being held annually by some one unconnected with the school, who should be approved of by the Charity Commissioners. The school has thus, under the tenure of the Head Mastership by Dr. Madge, of late years, ​been considerably improved, and the area of the subjects taught, widened; assisted as he has been by the able Second Master, Mr. C. W. Gott, B.A., London, and Miss Gibson. But it has also been increasingly recognised that there was room for still further development, if the institution was to take its proper position among the endowed educational establishments of the county. This, however, is a subject to which we shall recur hereafter.
In 1855 a school Library was commenced, the Governors granting £10 for the purchase of books; £20 being given in the following year, and this has been further enlarged in later years, until the books now number nearly 500.
In March, 1893, a Magazine entitled Banovallum was established, to be mainly carried on by the scholars, the Editor being J. G. Meanwell, Sub-Editor J. R. Cowburn. It was a monthly record of school work and sports, with various other matters of interest. It was intended also to be a link of connection between "old boys" and new; and with this view former pupils of the school were invited to contribute." The outside support, however, of such a publication was not sufficient to render it a paying venture, and after an existence of rather more than two years, it expired with the July No. of 1895.
Here we may fittingly introduce some personal reminiscences of the school, and those connected with it, in its palmiest days, under the regime of Dr. Smith, and first we may mention members of his own family.
Although, as before stated, himself of humble origin, he married the daughter of a General Sandwith, a lady who was highly esteemed by all who knew her. She bore him three sons and three daughters, and predeceased him. His eldest son, Bainbridge, graduated at Cambridge University, took Holy Orders, was at one time English Chaplain at Smyrna, and succeeded his father in the Rectory of Sotby. He married a daughter of Judge Haliburton of Nova Scotia, the author of Sam Slick, The Watchmaker (1839) and other works, which were popular in their day. The eldest daughter, Frances, married a member of a then well-known Horncastle family, the Rev. John Fawssett, a graduate of Cambridge, who afterwards became in turn Rector of Minting and Vicar of Baumber with Stourton. A second son, Joseph Coltman, became a Solicitor in Hull, but died early in life. A second daughter, Isabella, married the Rev. W. Affleck Peacock (named after his relative Sir Robert Affleck, of Dalham Hall, Newmarket), Rector of Ulceby near Alford. The youngest daughter, as already stated, married the Rev. Henry Fiennes Clinton, Rector of Cromwell, near Newark, a near relative of the Duke of Newcastle, to whom he was appointed domestic Chaplain. The third and youngest son, Clement Madely, so named after his godfather, the esteemed former Vicar of Horncastle, adopted the medical profession and went out to India, where he became known as a keen sportsman among big game; a group of two tigers shot by him, and stuffed by Ward the great taxidermist, being exhibited in the Crystal Palace several years ago.
Of the scholars at the school, under Dr. Smith, we recall a few names, as samples of the class of pupils whom he received. There were three Sandwiths, Humphrey, Godfrey, and Henry, who were his nephews on his wife's side. ​Humphrey became a surgeon, and having a taste for foreign travel, went out to Constantinople to practice there. Having good introductions he was kindly received by Sir Stratford Canning, the English Ambassador, and making the acquaintance of Layard, he was invited to travel with him to Mecca, Mosul, and Nineveh, at two of which places excavations were conducted; as Hakim, or Doctor, he was visited by crowds of Arabs, suffering from various ailments; and his quinine wrought wonderful cures among them. When at home he sometimes surprised his friends by suddenly appearing among them dressed in Arab costume. In 1855 he was at the famous siege of Kars, under General Fenwick Williams; when a force of 15,000 English were shut in by an army of 50,000 Russians. The English had three months' provisions and three days' ammunition; they suffered greatly from cholera, and after five months surrendered, only when overcome by famine. Humphrey wrote a history of the siege.
Of Godfrey we remember little; Henry graduated at Cambridge, took Holy Orders, and became Vicar of Thorpe Salvin, near Worksop. There were three Inveraritys, Duncan, Henry, and William; the first of these went out to India, and became a Judge in the Supreme Sudder Court. Henry devoted himself to yachting, and died early. William held a commission in a Highland Regiment of foot. Roseville Brackenbury, whose father, a former Peninsular officer, and member of an old Lincolnshire family, resided temporarily at Horncastle, in order to place his son under Dr. Smith, entered the East India Company's service, in the Bengal Presidency.
There were three Buchanans, sons of an old Indian officer, Major Buchanan, a Scotchman, but residing in Maida Vale, London. These were James, Alexander, and Robert. James was a dashing, chivalrous, high-spirited fellow, who took service in a Madras regiment of cavalry; his brother "Alick" was of a different fibre, being chiefly remarkable for the amount of treacle tarts which he could consume, at the shop of the once well-known "Sally Dickinson;" the third brother, Robert, entered the navy.
We may here mention, as evidence of the hard work which was done under Dr. Smith's system, a feat of memory performed by two brothers among the senior boys, Thomas and Alfred Cammack, which the present writer well remembers, as he was present as a small boy when it occurred. "Repetition," of one kind or another, was required of all boys; but these two repeated to the Master from memory, the whole of the first book of Milton's Paradise Lost (798 lines), Thomas with only three promptings, and Alfred with five. Another boy, Sidney Bousfield, did the same with nine or ten promptings. Thomas Cammack walked his hospital in London, and eventually became a consulting physician of some eminence, residing at Boston; Alfred died early. Sydney Bousfield went out to India, and died some years ago.
Two pupils, Holland and Forge, who came to study with the Doctor, of more mature years than the ordinary scholars, were "crack shots," and welcomed at many of the shooting parties in the neighbourhood. A third, Frank Richardson, who was an ardent fox hunter, had his horse brought to the door weekly, on the day when the meet was nearest, and was always among the foremost in the field. He was, further, a great athlete, and would follow the hounds on foot, and not seldom be in at two deaths in the day, several miles apart; of him, it is related, that he leapt the school-yard wall, nearly 7-ft. high. There were many more who were trained by the Doctor to serve their generation worthily in various capacities, but let these suffice as a sample of his influence.
​The Under Masters whose services he enlisted were, further, not unworthy of him. We will name one or two.
The first Under Master of whom the present writer has any knowledge was Thomas Myddelton. He was by birth a gentleman, being connected with the very old family of the Myddelton Biddulphs of Chirk Castle, North Wales, who have now dropped the latter name, retaining only the Myddelton. Thomas Myddelton's father, John M. (then dead), had been Rector of Bucknall, in this neighbourhood, 1804-34; his grandfather, also named Thomas, having been Vicar of Melton Mowbray; he (John M.) having been an Exhibitioner of St. Paul's School, London, graduated B.A. at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, 1782, and gained a Fellowship.
Lord Clinton and Saye, Founder of the Grammar School.
Thomas also graduated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. While serving as Under Master at the Grammar School he was ordained to the Curacy of Bucknall, under his father's successor, the Rev. John Fendall. On the occasion of his ordination he begged a whole holiday of Dr. Smith, and treated the whole school to a day at Tattershall Castle; hiring carriages to take them all, there being yet no railway; and he gave them a substantial meal at the "Fortescue Arms" Hotel. He was naturally very popular with the boys of the school, although he was rather a strict disciplinarian, and made them work hard. He was commemorated in the "Breaking up Song" of the school in the following lines:—
Mr. Myddelton now comes in, With his nose above his chin; (two prominent features)
With pleasant smile he waves his cane, As though to say, "I would fain refrain; It grieves me sore to give a thwack Upon the shrinking truant's back." (CHORUS.) We're breaking up, and going away, All for the sake of a holiday. Jack's a dull boy without his play; So, Hurrah, again, for a holiday!
He remained at the Grammar School about two years, afterwards taking the Curacy of Langton with Wildsworth, near Gainsborough. He presently moved to West Stockwith, holding the Curacy of Wildsworth with East Ferry. He never held a benefice; but, having some private means, he continued to reside, in retirement, at West Stockwith, until his decease, about 1880. He was buried at Misterton, the adjoining parish, where he had also taken occasional duty.
After Mr. Myddelton the next Under Master was William Hutchinson. He was the son of the landlord of the principal inn in the neighbouring town of Wragby, and had been educated at the small grammar school there. He was appointed about 1845. He graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, as B.A., in 1848, keeping his terms there by permission, while acting as Usher at Horncastle. In that year he left Horncastle, and was elected Master of Howden Grammar School in Yorkshire, where he was also appointed Curate in 1848, being ordained Deacon in 1848 and Priest in 1849. While at Horncastle he had married Miss Caroline Dixon, daughter of a corn merchant; there were five daughters, all clever, the youngest being Miss Annie Dixon, who became distinguished as a miniature painter, exhibiting in the Royal Academy, and becoming a favourite of the late Queen Victoria. He held the Head Mastership at Howden for several years; holding also the Perpetual Curacy of Laxton near Howden from 1850 to 1855, the Perpetual Curacy or Vicarage of Airmyn from 1855 to 1862, when he was appointed Vicar of Howden, which benefice he held till his death in 1903.
It was somewhat remarkable that he began professional life in Horncastle, famed for its great horse fairs, and passed the rest of his life at Howden, also noted for its great horse fair. His wife is buried, with two sisters, in the cemetery at Horncastle.
The next Under Master to be mentioned about this period was Francis Grosvenor. He was the son of a respectable tradesman in the town, and had been educated at the Grammar School. At first he was employed by Dr. Smith as a supernumerary teacher of the junior boys, and became useful in the temporary absences of Mr. Hutchinson, at Dublin University. He was a conscientious and dependable youth, thoughtful beyond his years, and was much valued by the Head Master, who was a shrewd judge of character. He also graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, taking honours; and was ordained Deacon in 1847, and Priest in 1848. He remained as Second Master for some years at the Grammar School, being much esteemed among neighbouring clergy for his unostentatious manners and general worth. He frequently officiated in the Parish Church. Eventually he went to Chester, as Curate of St. John's Church in that city, where he remained many years, taking pupils. There was probably a talismanic attraction in the name of Grosvenor; Eaton Hall, the seat of Lord Grosvenor (now Duke of Westminster) being in the immediate vicinity. He was consequently very successful in obtaining pupils; ​and made money, whereby he acquired considerable house property there and elsewhere. He was devoted to archæological pursuits, and published a learned paper (of 16 pp.) on "The early connection between the County Palatine of Chester and the Principality of Wales," which he read before the County Antiquarian Society. After many years' residence in Chester, he retired on a competency to Epsom, in Surrey, where his mother, brother and sister resided with him; and where he acted as Chaplain to the Union, until his decease, about 1880.
The last Assistant Master, under Dr. Smith, whom we may name was John Burton, born of humble parents in Peterborough. He was appointed about 1848, and served Dr. Smith faithfully about three years. He was not, however, a strong man, either physically or mentally. His weakness of character was shewn in an incident which might have had a tragic termination. Having formed an attachment for a young lady, living near the schoolhouse, and being rejected, he declared that he would commit suicide; and he fired off a pistol under her window at night, taking care, however, not to wound himself. On leaving the school he entered at Jesus College, Cambridge, and graduated in 1853, dying soon afterwards.
On the appointment of the Rev. Samuel Lodge, to the Head Mastership in 1854, Thomas White, a graduate of St. John's College, Cambridge, became Under Master. He had taken classical honours, and was an efficient teacher, and rather strict disciplinarian. He was the first Under Master allowed to take private pupils as boarders. He continued at his post six years, taking Holy Orders, and in 1860 was presented by the Bishop of Lincoln to the Vicarage of Scamblesby, which he held until his death in 1891.
It may be of interest if we here give some of the customs of the school at this period, as samples of a state of things which is now past and gone. The morality of some of them might be questioned in these days of advanced ideas on civilization, but, under the guidance of a man of Dr. Smith's mental calibre, their effect was the rearing of a generation of manly youths, capable of much intellectual, as well as physical, activity and endurance.
The Head Master was himself a remarkable instance of this. Punctually at 7.30, without fail, he was every morning in his desk at the school, to open proceedings with prayer, it being frequently a race between himself and his boarder pupils, as to who should arrive first, his residence being some quarter mile from the school. When he closed the school, with "abire licet," in the afternoon, he as regularly went for his "constitutional" walk. Furious indeed must be the weather if Dr. Smith was not to be seen on Langton Hill, summer and winter, rain or fair; if the former he would brave the elements, wrapt in a large blue cloth cloak, waterproof as his leather gaiters. If the latter, he would often saunter slowly, rapt in meditation, or composing verses, an occupation of which he was very fond, leaving behind him at his death several vols. of MS. poetry.
​The school hours were from 7.30 to 9, before breakfast; 10 to 12.30 midday; afternoon 3 to 5; while the boarders at his own house worked with the Assistant Master from 7 to 9; the day boys, in the town, preparing exercises and repetition for the next morning, at their own homes. It was an amusement, for some of the more active, to get up some quarter of an hour earlier than the others, and hurry down to St. Mary's Church, to help old Dawson, the sexton, to ring the Grammar School bell. As the Doctor was very active in his movements, any boarders who were late in starting, could only reach the school in time, by running across the fields between the two branches of the canal, called "The Holms." Woe betide those who were late!
From the Doctor's energy of character it would be expected that he would encourage active healthy recreations. The days of cricket were not yet, although "single wicket" was sometimes practiced. Nor was football popular, as it is now. The game was indeed played, but we had, in those days, no Rugby rules, and the ball was composed of a common bladder, with a leather cover made by the shoemaker. In the school yard the chief game was "Prisoner's Base," generally played by boarders against day boys; in this swiftness of foot was specially valuable. There was also a game named "Lasty," in which one boy was selected to stand at the upper end of the yard, while the rest gathered at the lower end. After a short interval, the one boy darted forward towards the others, who all tried to avoid him; his object was to catch one of the other boys, and when he succeeded in this, the boy whom he caught took up the running to catch another, and this could go on for any length of time. There was another exciting game called "Lug and a Bite." In the fruit season a day boarder, from the country, frequently brought his pocket full of apples; he would throw an apple among the other boys, one of whom would catch it, and run away biting it; the others would chase him, and seize him by the lug (ear), when he would throw it away, and another would catch it, and continue the process, he being, in his turn, caught by the ear, and so on. This afforded much amusement, and many apples would in this way be consumed. There were large slabs ot stone laid down in the yard, on which marbles were played with, and peg tops were spun. Hockey, or shinty, as it was commonly called, was also a favourite game; but these amusements were chiefly confined to the sons of tradesmen in the town.
Among the boarders archery was practised, and by some of them with a skill almost rivalling that of Locksley in Sir Walter Scott's novel of Ivanhoe. A carpenter in the town made for us bows of lancewood, and arrows of poplar, tipped with spikes of iron. With these we could not only split our "willow wand" at 80 yards distant, but the more skilful deemed an arrow hardly worth having until it had been baptized in the blood of blackbird or pigeon, and some of the neighbouring pigeon cotes suffered accordingly. The writer was presented with a bow made of bamboo, and arrows said to be poisoned, which a great traveller, then residing in Horncastle, had brought from the South Sea Islands. He lent these to a brother archer, who by mistake shot another boy in the calf of the leg. Great alarm was the result, but the poison must have lost its power, for no evil consequences ensued, except that the wounded party almost frightened himself into a state of fever.
​These, however, were among the less hardy of our sports. The good old Doctor's great aim was to get us healthily engaged in the country. With this object he would say on a Monday morning to the bigger boys of the two highest classes, "Now, lads, if you will translate this book of Virgil, or Homer, or this Greek play, as quickly as you can, you shall have the rest of the week to spend as you like." Put upon our mettle by such a challenge the work would be completed, by us perhaps on the Wednesday, and three days of varied
Successive Head Masters, from 1818 to 1907.
enjoyment in country rambles would follow. In these days, when bird-nesting is forbidden as being "cruelty to animals," it may horrify some of our readers to learn that the Doctor encouraged his pupils to collect eggs. On our excursions in early summer every hedge was carefully examined for many miles round, the tallest trees were climbed, or, as it was then called "swarmed," in search of the eggs of hawk, carrion crow, woodpecker, &c.; those of the ​owl were found in the thick fir plantations, or those of the jackdaw in old ruins; the rarest specimens being presented to the Doctor himself, while commoner kinds were hung in festoons from the ceiling of our study at his residence. The two chief holidays at this season were the Queen's Birthday, May 24th, and "Royal Oak Day," May 29th. On these two days the boys were expected to decorate the school in the early hours of the morning; a sine qua non being, that, on the Doctor's arrival at 7.30 a.m., he should find his desk so filled with floral and arboreal adornments, that he could not enter it; whereat he would make the remark, repeated annually, "Well, boys! you have shut me out of my desk, so we must give up work for the day." He also, on these occasions, often brought with him a daughter, and the two carefully looked into the decorated desk, when they were rewarded by finding the nest and eggs of a "feather-poke" (long-tailed tit), or some other rare bird, which he always took home and preserved in his study, as a trophy till the following year. No questions were asked as to how the decorations were obtained, but in practice the process was as follows. On the day before, between school hours, certain of the younger boys were sent round the town to beg flowers, and then, later on, followed what, as we should have said, the present hypercritical generation would call, at the very least, "dishonest pilfering." After retiring to rest, and when the final visit of the Assistant Master had been made to the dormitories, all became excitement; boots and caps had been carefully concealed under the beds. The elder boys were quickly re-clothed, booted and bonneted; and we crept down, by back stairs, to the kitchen, with the connivance of the cook and housekeeper; those good souls also providing some refreshment for us, to be taken either before we went out, or after we returned; and then, stealthily emerging by the back door, we separated into small companies of twos and threes; some re-visiting gardens in the town, and taking without permission further flowers; others going into the country; sometimes even taking a light cart from one yard and a pony or horse from another, and then visiting gardens or parks in the neighbourhood, and returning laden with branches of horse-chesnut flowers, pink may, &c., which were quietly conveyed to the school; and by the appointed hour the work of decoration would be completed; and we, having returned to our dormitories, refreshed through the cook's kindness the inner man, and washed the outer, were ready to greet the good Doctor and his daughter on their arrival. The only difference between the decorations on the 24th and 29th was, that on the latter day oak leaves and acorns were a distinguishing feature, some of the sprays having been gilded on the previous day for presentation to the young lady.
There was another great day called the "Treasurer's holiday." Once a year the one of the Governors, who held that office, was entitled to ask the Head Master to give us a whole holiday, which he was always pleased to grant. The custom was for one of the senior boys to call upon, or write to, the Treasurer, usually after some period of extra hard scholastic work, asking him to exercise this privilege. The way in which these holidays were spent varied. Sometimes we had a "Paper Chase," or "Fox and Hounds." One boy was sent out as fox, sometimes accompanied by another boy, both carrying in bags a supply of paper, torn into small shreds, which formed the scent. In this sport the Doctor sometimes offered a reward of five shillings to the "fox" who should manage to elude his pursuers until he had reached the bank of the river Witham, a distance of about six miles, but increased to 10 or more miles ​by the different ruses practised to escape capture; a similar reward being offered to the "hound" who should effect his capture after a run of a stipulated number of miles.
Sometimes we had a picnic to the Tower-on-the-Moor, going there on foot, through "the Wilderness," and other woods, and having our luncheon brought to the Tower in the carrier's cart, which passed daily on its way to Kirkstead wharf. This was usually a bird-nesting excursion. More than one of us accomplished the hazardous feat of climbing to the top of the tower, whence a fine view could be obtained, on a favourable day, across the Wash into Norfolk. On one of these occasions we extended our ramble to Kirkstead wharf, some adventurous spirits took forcible possession of the ferry boat, and carried over women returning home, with their marketings, free of charge. The owner of the boat was, however, compensated by our calling at his small hostel close by, and patronising his lemonade, bread and cheese. Sometimes the excursion was to Tattershall Castle, and if this was in the winter we skated there in the morning, along the canal, returning on our "runners" by moonlight; the Doctor being himself a good skater, encouraged it in his boys. On these occasions we sometimes amused ourselves on the return journey by firing pistols, to disturb the inhabitants of houses near the canal; when, if anyone put his head out of a bedroom window, some one of us would shout, "your money or your life;" the usual response being "Go along, ye bulldogs," the name by which we were commonly known throughout the country side.
On one of these return journeys, while skating in single file, we approached the third lock, and the boy in front forgetting that there would be no ice for a few yards below the lock, because the water there was kept in agitation by the stream always falling from the lock, suddenly found himself floundering in an icy cold bath, while himself in a state of great heat. The shock, and the fact that he was cumbered by his skates, made him almost helpless, and he would probably have been drowned, but that a fine fellow (I give his name, Edward Sharpe, for he has long ago put "off this mortal coil"), who was a great athlete, plunged in, skates and all, regardless of the risk, and like a Newfoundland dog, panting brought his friend to shore, with no worse effects than the drenching to both. And here I may say that one of the accomplishments specially encouraged by the Doctor was that of swimming; the very youngest were taught to swim by the Under Master, in a small pool in the river Bain, called "Dead Man's Hole," about 100 yards from the first lock of the canal. After gaining proficiency we bathed in the canal and lockpit itself. The Doctor gave a reward of 5/- to any boy who could dive across the canal, the same sum when he could swim 100 yards on his back.
On one occasion a bully, among, the bigger boys, threw a timid little fellow into the lockpit when full, saying "Now, you'll learn to swim, or sink." The little fellow did sink, rose to the surface, and sank again; and would certainly have been drowned, but a shout from other indignant youngsters, looking helplessly on, brought the same Edward Sharpe to the rescue (he was bathing below the lock, not aware of what was going on), and he at once plunged into the lock, dived to the bottom (18 or 20 feet), and brought up the poor half-conscious boy, who would otherwise have perished.
It may here be mentioned that the present writer once swam from the junction of the two branches of the canal (close to the present bathing place) to the first lock, then passed on and swam to the second, and so continuing, swam to the third lock, his clothes being carried by a school fellow who ​accompanied him; this being a distance of some two miles, for this the Doctor rewarded him with 10/- and a whole holiday. He also, it may be added, as a reckless feat, when bathing, leapt stark naked across the first lock; a performance which the slightest slip might have made fatal.
Many are the anecdotes which could be here told of our adventures; as of policemen or keepers eluded, or put off the scent, by various ruses, &c., &c., on our various marauding expeditions, but I will mention only two more incidents.
From the same feelings of jealousy, doubtless, which produce the "Town and Gown" antagonism at the University, there was much ill-feeling among the lower class of boys in the town towards ourselves, and free fights occasionally occurred between them and the hated "bull-dogs." At dusk stones were thrown at us, which it was difficult to avoid in the then badly lighted streets. Sudden sorties were made from alleys, to take us unawares, and send us sprawling on the coggles. Especially in snowy weather we were assailed with snowballs on our way from school to the Doctor's house, and although we stood shoulder to shoulder and made a spirited resistance, it not uncommonly occurred that these missiles were (doubtless purposely) made to contain a piece of ice, or even a sharp flint. In one of these skirmishes the writer himself was struck on the temple, his eye only just escaping, by a snowball, which a comrade picked up, on seeing that the wound was bleeding, and a fragment of glass was found inside it; this, surely, an extreme illustration of the principle that "all is lawful in war."
One great event, of yearly re-occurrence, was our bonfire with fireworks, on the 5th of November. Pocket money was hoarded up several weeks beforehand, to provide for the latter; some boys even made their own squibs and crackers, and these were considerably larger and more formidable than those which were bought. The scene was usually a field on Langton Hill, which belonged to the school. Subscriptions were raised to purchase 100 faggots, locally called "kids;" but here again our custom would, in strictness, have been condemned, for, in addition to the purchased fuel, for sometime beforehand, we had been searching the hedges around, armed wath axes, and so had got together probably as much to which we had no right, as that which had been bought. The bonfire was thus doubled in size, and made a blaze which, on the hill, would be seen for many a mile. We had a whole holiday to give us time to pile up the heap; and in the evening parents and many other friends crowded to the field as spectators. Sometimes a lighted balloon or two, of varied colours, would be sent up, which were watched by the bright eyes of sisters and cousins, until they were lost in the distance.
At length the conflagration was reduced to smouldering ashes, and all retired; but on our way back to the school house there were often rough doings, between the town boys and bull-dogs; free vent was given to spite, and a broken or bruised head, or body, might be the result; but we made no complaint; as loyal subjects we had done our duty in protesting against all such underhand doings as "Gunpowder Plot;" and, after a hearty supper, given by our kind Head Master, we enjoyed the rest, well earned by the exertions and trials of the day.
We have now said enough of the school, its institutions and customs, under a regime which has passed away, doubtless never to return; tempora mutantur.
Of the modern school we may here say that it is now doing useful work, ​although with a different class of pupils to those above referred to; and in the near future, it is hoped, that further changes will give it a still higher position in educational work. Under Dr. A. G. Madge, who retired and accepted church preferment in 1907, the school was made to meet the requirements of the Oxford and Cambridge local examinations, the London University Matriculation, and the South Kensington Science and Art Departments.
In late years boys from the school have filled posts in various parts of the world with credit. A considerable number have obtained clerkships in banks, or in the Civil Service; one boy, Richard Gordon Healey, passed 7th among more than a hundred candidates for the General Post Office service, London, and is now in the excise service. Another, Fairburn, is Assistant Inspector of Police at Singapore. Another, Isle, is a Civil Engineer, and has taken the B.Sc. degree. A summary of successes at the school, kindly supplied to the writer by Dr. Madge, shows that in the last seven years (1906) five boys have passed the London University Matriculation, 19 the Cambridge local examination, 34 the South Kensington examination, while four have qualified for the public Civil Service; a creditable result for a town of the size of Horncastle.
The Seal of the Grammar School.
A recent change has been the admission of pupil teachers to classes specially adapted to their requirements, and with this accession to the numbers receiving instruction, there are now more pupils in the school, male and female together, than at any period within the last 30 years.
The latest changes, in the direction of progress, have been as follows: A new governing body has been created by the Board of Education, consisting of 13 members; the Lord of the Manor, the Honble. R. Stanhope, being ex officio one of them; eight representative Governors holding office for three years; two being appointed by the Lindsey County Council, three (one of them a female) by the Urban Council, two by the Guardians, one by the Justices of the Peace at the Lindsey Quarter Sessions. There are also four co-optative Governors (among them one female at least), appointed by the Governors for five years. It is further ordered that the Head Master need not be in Holy Orders; under which rule has been appointed the present Head Master, Mr. Arthur N. Worman, B.A., London, late Assistant Master at King Edward VII. Grammar School, King's Lynn, who was selected by the Governors from 150 candidates for the post.
Addendum I.
It will have been observed that we have so far adopted the prevalent nomenclature, and spoken of this school as an Elizabethan institution, founded in 1571. It must now be added that, venerable as that date of origin would make it, it has a higher claim to our veneration still. Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona. There were grammar schools before that date. Edward VI. is said to have established several, in various parts of the country, and we have already named two such in our own neighbourhood, viz., those of Spilsby and Louth; but it is now known that even these were, strictly speaking, revivals of still other institutions. It is now known that not a few of the charities, or public institutions, supposed to have been founded by Queen Elizabeth, were really of older date, but revived, confirmed, or augmented, under her wise rule. In a published account of the old grammar school of Giggleswick, Yorkshire, commonly reputed to be a foundation of Edward VI., is the following statement, "a large number of schools bear the name of Ed. VI., who undoubtedly desired to strengthen the grammar school system. His good intentions were, however, frustrated by the Commissioners; and very few of the so-called Edward VI. grammar schools had their origin in his reign, being older foundations with a new name."
It seems certain that Horncastle Grammar School is an analogous case. Documents have recently been brought to light in the archives of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln, which prove that, acting for the Chancellor (who was ex officio "Magister Scholarum"), during a temporary vacancy of that office, they appointed Masters to the grammar schools of Boston, Partney, Horncastle, and elsewhere, in the year 1329; the Horncastle Master, so appointed, being one John of Beverley. This mode of appointment being exceptional, was only to be valid for one year; but the Chancellorship continuing vacant, the Masters were confirmed in their positions by the Dean and Chapter, in the following year 1330, and again in 1331; and so on, in successive years.
Now this mode of appointment being only in lieu of appointment by the Chancellor, while his office was in abeyance, it follows that these schools were in existence, as public institutions under the Chancellor, before the dates named. Although, therefore, we are unable to fix the exact period of the school's existence, it may be satisfactory for Horncastrians to know that, in addition to the various interesting associations which we have already given as connected with the school, there is proof that before Shakespeare had composed one of his immortal plays, before Spenser had written a line of his Faerie Queen, before Bacon had even thought of his Advancement of Learning, there had existed a "seat of learning" in the small provincial town of Horncastle, which had then attained to the respectable age of more than two centuries.
​We have been accustomed to consider the foundation of William of Wykeham, at Winchester, in 1373, as one at least of our very oldest, but Horncastle Grammar School may even be of still earlier date than that. The oldest school of all is King's School, Canterbury, attributed to Archbishop Theodore, A.D. 670, but which may probably be traced to St. Augustine. St. Peter's School, York, is the next oldest.
Addendum II.
The Governors of the Grammar School are about to erect, in this year, 1908, new and more commodious premises for the school, in the grounds of what is now called "The Chestnuts," near the west end of West Street.
* ↑ For further information as to the origin of the school see addendum at the end of this chapter.
* ↑ "Comorants," this is the Latin "Commorantes," meaning "temporarily resident."
* ↑ Lord Clinton was 9th in descent from John de Clinton, of Armingion and Maxlock, Co. Warwick. He was born in 1512; married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Blount, and widow of Gilbert, Lord Tailbois. He was made Lord Lieutenant of the County of Lincoln, Governor of the Tower of London, had been already granted the Manor and Castle of Tattershall by Ed. VI. and was created Earl of Lincoln by Elizabeth in 1572. a title still held by his descendants, now Dukes of Newcastle. He died January 16, 1584, and was buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
* ↑ It has already been stated that lands were given by John Neale in 1575; and by will dated Feb. 7, 1692, Mr. Nicholas Shipley bequeathed £100 to assist poor scholars, but this was lost by the Treasurer, in 1703.
* ↑ By an apparently irregular proceeding, the land in Thornton was in 1704, transferred to the Hon. Lewis Dymoke of Scrivelsby, Champion of England. In 1811 the Governors decided to have their rights in this matter investigated. Application was made to the Champion for an explanation of the transaction. The case was submitted to the Charity Commissioners, no reply however was ever received from the Champion, and after a delay of 25 years, the matter was allowed to drop. The £12 a year paid in lieu of the former land does not seem to be an equivalent for the original gift.
* ↑ The present writer has a copy of this work.
* ↑ This grant amounted in 1903 to £60 19s. The income for that year, apart from the grant, was £256 11s. 4d; fees of pupils amounting to £263 10s.; school expenses £473 3s. 8d.
* ↑ Among those, formerly connected with the school, who contributed to this Magazine, were the late Head Master, Canon S. Lodge; the Senior Governor, Dr. R. Jalland; A. C. Clapin, a whilome French pupil in the days of Dr. Smith, who was son of an officer in the army of Napoleon I.; and the present writer, who wrote School Reminiscences.
* ↑ To the credit and honour of Dr. Smith, he brought his aged father and mother, the former being blind, to Horncastle, and provided for them in their old age. They resided in a small cottage, close to his own house, now adjoining the Great Northern Hotel.
* ↑ The writer possesses a copy of this, given to him by the author. He has also a 1st class prize, a book, signed by J. B. Smith and F. Grosvenor as 1st and 2nd masters.
* ↑ His practice was always to close the school with these words. When the boys were let out for 10 minutes, to freshen up in the school yard, as was done at 11.30 every morning, the expression was varied to "exire licet."
* ↑ Among the tasks set us to do by ourselves between Saturday morning and Monday, were theses on various subjects, or original verses, on some chosen theme; the writer still possesses several of these, of varied merit. They taught us, however, the careful use of words.
* ↑ The ringing of this bell was given up a few years ago, as the Governors decided not to pay for it.
* ↑ The veteran, Mr. Thomas Baker, the friend of the champion cricketer, Dr. W. G. Grace, and the trainer of Sir Evelyn Wood, had not yet arrived at Horncastle, which he did a few years later, to put life and energy into our cricketers.
* ↑ By Rev T. P. Brocklehurst, Vicar of that parish, 1901.
* ↑ As a similar instance to that named in the text, the school at Kingston on Thames is now called "Queen Elizabeth's," but it was founded by Bishop Edingion, in 1364. It may here be mentioned that the grammar school of Bruton, Somerset, which was originally founded in 1519, was re-established by Edward VI., "by letters patent, dated June 20, 1549, Corpus Christi day," on which day the Governors, Masters, and Scholars still attend a special commemoration service in the Parish Church. (Guardian, August 2, 1905, p. 1,287)
* ↑ Full details of these appointments are given in a Paper, by Mr. A. F. Leach, author of English Schools at the Reformation, for the Gazette of the Old Bostonian Club, which is reprinted in the Journal of the Lincolnshire Architectural Society, vol. xxvi, pt. ii, pp. 398 et seq, 1902.