The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-01-23 00:00:00

brat Cenntti expren.

DORCHESTER. JANUARY 230. 1883.

Re-Opening of the Dorchester

Grammar School.

Old boys of the great public schools look beak with
the deepest affection and fondness to their aims
maser, and their thoughts ever and anon revert to
the many days of happiness spent within the four
corners of a schoolhouse—days which to many are the
happiest they ever spud or ever will spend. School
life, with its hopes and fears, its triala and tempts.
bons, stand out in a rime* life with the molt marked
prominesee, and the countless incidents, with the
varied experiences of pleautre and pain, which make
up the aura of a schoolboy's extetenco, present them.
0111•1111 after the lapse of in Any yews as the happiest
term of a man's existence. This would appear to be
somewhat of an illusion, for with what joy dem not
the boy hail the day that sees him freed from the
fetters of school life, and with what delight dose he not
bid farewell to the school, which, in after years, he
will hail with the mod sentimental love and auction.
Whether the j 'y at parting or the future love be the
most genuine, and whether the fondness with which
an old boy will speak of his former mister who, in
days gone by, he would have willingly condoned
to regions unknown, be the shallowest aentimentatty,
may not be determined, but we all know that the feel-
ings that come to a man later in life would seem the
truest, and we are loath to disparage those sane feel-
ings. Boys of the old Dorchester Grammar School,
hie true, cannot contemplate a grand instil Won lake
Eta', Rugby, Sherb was., Harrow, sad Marlborough,
but they aro happy in the knowledge that their school
stands high in the ranks of the old scholastic institu-
tions of the country, and that it has had within Its
time-honoured walls men whose names are still
honoured for worthy woks's rendered to the State.
Cowing down to our own times, we may say old Dor-
chester Grammar School boys abound; some of them
are occupying principal positions in our town, with
credit to themselves end advantage to their fellow-
citizens; sod within the memory of living men there
have lived and died those whose names will live as
long as the 'school, and long after the fabric has suc-
cumbed to the inevitaide. We are sure the many old
boys living will rejoice that the school has risen,
Flaecnizare, from its ashes, and that In the place of
the MiDOOl structure which formerly did duty, there
has been erected a handsome and commodious build-
ing, which will be ens of the ornaments of the town.
Especially delighted will they be, mattered up and
down the country as no doubt they are, that many of
their old "landmarks," if we may so term them, have
been preserved, and not only preserved, but given
immured ;dame in the new building. For instance, the
old worsen, black with age, now graces the large
ethoolroom. It has been polished and renovated, but
all the polishing in the world will never rub out those
Indelible cutting,' " Maskew" and " Hassey," and the
countless oreamental &Avis, which in their execution
must had been sources of the lotensest delight to the
artist. They hove immortalized themeelvei, but woe
be to the unfortunate wight, who now so fax forgets
himself as to encourage any little propensity for the
"fine sits," with which he might be endowed.
Vengeanco dire has already been pronounced against
any such.

The opening ceremony took piece in the large school.
room, which IVY crowded to excess by a most inflows.
tial company. His Worship the Mayor (H. Diodes,
Esq.), accompanied by many members of the Corpora-
tdon, attended in civic state. The Mayor occupied
the chair, supported by J. Floyar, E. H.P., and
the R iv. T. W. Knipe (Chaplain of the echool).
Among those present were : —The High Sheriff of the
County (Colonel flambe.), Rev. Canon Reginald
Smith, Rev. H. Everett, It:v. O. F. Sanctuary, Rev.
C. F. Powys, Rev. 11, P. Rates. Hon. and Rev.
Spring•Ricro, Alderman Curme, Alderman GrefforY,
Alderman Ramo, Councillors A. H. Lo:k, Dr.
Aldridge, W. Darden, A. Po" F. Lock, R. Hunt,
W. Tdley, and C. Davis ; Mr. G. Symonds (Town
Clerk, and Clerk t the Governors), Mr. H. Symonds
(Deputy Town Clerk), Captain Itans4„ Mr. R.
Williams, pm., Mr. E. Pearce, Mr. M. Dovenish,
Mr. J. F. Hodge% Mr. Herbert Hodges, Mr. Gslpin,
Mr. T. Chessman Saunders, Dr. Hassey, Mr. F. B.
Wisher, Mr. R. Burnett, Cent. Coombs, Mr. Crickmay
(architect of the school), Mr. CrickulaY, Jan , Mr.
Pope, Mr. H. Beascoutbe. Mr. &Idiom, Dr. Symse, Me.
Guy, Mr. Osmond, Mr. Hoeg, Mr. Hill, Mr. Rummy,
Mr. Jameson, Mr. W. J. Darden, Mr. G. Medford,
Mr. Marsh, Mr. T. G. Beyer, /cc. Many ladies
of the town and neighbourhood graced the meeting by
their promisee. The room was filled to ite utmost
limits, and the greatest interest was manifested In the
proceeding., which throughout were of the most
pleasing description. The Mayor was attired in his
robes, and wore the splendid epld chain of office.
The MATOrt. In opening the proceedings, said : —Ladies
and Gentlemen: We are met this morning to perform •
pleasing duty, to take part in the ceremony of re-opening
the D.rchester Grammar School. The old Grammar
School is an inetitntion of very ancient did*, and we must
have all felt a considerable amount of regret at seeing it
closed as lots. However, we ore met this morning under
very favourable auspices indeed, lookingforward to Its
reopening, with enlarged buildings and ev appliance
for the comfort and the sanitary condition of the inmate*
(Applaues.) We bare • headmaster who comes to us from
one of tbe principal schools in the kinglono—Rughlo
with the very first class t-stimenials. and we also have.
am happy t my, • great number of applications for
*choler.. (Applause.) Under them eircumettnoes I think
you Mil say we.!. reopening this reboot under the most
favourable auspices, and we con only invoke a Ovine
blessing on the (atom work of the echool. I will call
upon our Chaplain. the it ctor of St. Petsorlo, to offer up •
prayer for the success of the school.
The R-v T. W. Kxtrx then offs:A an appropriate
germ Sr. asking for • blessing on the undertaklar, and
that the ancient institution which to-day glutei with
fresh life and hope might prosper and prove an 'nem
meat of greet good in the town and neighbourhood.
Mr. J. FLOTItt, K P., then said —Mr. Mayor, Lsdiee
mad Gentlemen : We have invited you, sir, to take part
in the proceedings of this day, with the members of the
honourable Town Coward of Dorchester, from feeling an
mourente that you take, and that your brother members
of the Council, take • deep Interest in the well'beine of
this school; and In that rsepect. as I doubt Dot in all other
respects, you worthily represent the feelings of your
fellow-to mimeo. (Applause) Now, sir, you and the
good people of Dorchester have shown their Intel-set In
this eche slts many ways, for • long period of time daring
the existence of this tomtit Aloe. It Is true, po doutot, that
the gentlemen of thee runty of D met have also shown their
solicitude for the well-being of the Dorchester Grammar
School. In fact we know, and I doubt not most of Os
magma know,that the original foundation deed, as it may
be termed, of the Free Grammar School of Dorchester is •
deed doting bark an far as the times of good Queen Bees:
foe in the year WI. If) mistake not, there is • deed in
which, after reciting that the town of Dorchester, being
the chief town of the county of Dorm% and that
there had been from the time of l's first incorpora.
tics • free school greatly wanted in the lame
town, and that • competent stipend foe one learned
man to be the schoolenuter, and one other learned
man for the nacostary education and 'Detraction of
children of all degrees In good discipline. went on to gay
"That the said Mr. Thomas Holm of Frames Na. hoped
that II the Dec mare supply thereof should be made the
rooters would tend to the laudable Increase of Wangling
and learned men. and Wet the Loe.t. of other. ef
bitter ability er mid be stirred up to enlarge hle
simple beginning" These were the words In the ID*
foundation. but they convey the intentions and the Aimed
the person who may be c onsidered los the founder of this
school. Now, that renoleman was on. of our country
as I soapy.' I may ism him. sal it shawl, me I
said, the interest of the c 'mar, rentleinet In
this school, or at leant in the education and the
instruction of the chddren of the county tows.
Bet notwithetandinx that, and that the begin.
sing In that respset memo t have °Oriented in the
c vasty and not within the limits of this ancient b vole%
on looking further into the documents of the honourable
Corporation of this town, find • minate made upon
*es of the records of the Borough. and thie minute is to
this eff. et, under date 11135:—" The old irhool borJe-in;
on the east side of S outhutiest. with the Laden behind
the isamewas for some elegant put Wowing to the town
and built by the townsmen, but about the gist of
Pliisaheth the townsmen bestowed it upon Me Rudy.), on
condition that he would *ado+ it with lands and
smarities. which the salt Kr. II rlye did. The towoo
men thou proposed to bestow this ancient school and
Pardee, which had boon huilt by the to •ososee, and
therefore it would appear from that statement that even
Wove good Mr. Hardy. emreersd three lan-l• and tene-
ments. as be did tottery them for thel”nent of this schoo,.
oven Woes that time there slid ,zee. on this spot, I
presume, a school which had hems 'wilt by the towns-
men re Dorchester; and. there( Me, Mr. Mayor, in anoint
pot represent stem Hoe of officials and highly-respected
persons lathe chair of the mayoralty, I may add that
you and your preicomenrs from the earliest times hays
shown your interest In the existence and the well.bsing
of this school sad the iastrosetiot of the children in thls
town. (Appleese.) Now In Mr. Howdys's deed we 11.14 he
coeveyed certain moody in different p.n., ehi Ay in
this town, to trusts.., one of whom was the 11(a,quis of
Winchester. arm% of d siltation In that day assi th, heti
of the great fetrooly of the Pool tts. Amongst the other
trustees to whom this convey.. was made we fled
amongst other honoured Dams the names, of females
which dill exist, I an lumpy to say, names well known to
the Inhabitants of Dorchester. them of Flennhis and
Churchill, both reseeded names in this neishhoorhool.
(Applause) Then Mr. H.rdye goes on "to Ihn power to
the trust icts to make order., and couettetion for Me
direction n( the school in his lifetime, end to be otswved
alter his death without alterstdoo." That showed men
confidence In the wisdom of the pr00e.,p,,, tb-p were
taking, for we hardly any of as can look forward to
making; laws without alteration. and that honour-
able assembly to which I have the honour to belong
dos a good deal in the alterstiou of the
Ihwe—sad sometimes I think • lit Is more than
Is geometry and sometimes • little less. (lesusht or.)
Bost still good Mr. Herdya had confidence in the sound
position of his othlol, and I am Dot one to say he was
wrong is that confidence. It Is, howrver. here (mistime
after three nentorim sad • half, and plans God I hop, it
may exist for three canaries ends half more (Anointed
The next thine I w u'd rater ts for a moment is Host of
another worthy gentlemen of this county tohiolt en
Interest in the provision of good *dm etion in the town of
Dordrester—Sit Robert Neeper. He. we are inform'''.
by that eons paper I have referred to amongst the
archives of the Ceeperstios. purchased ol a Xt. Gould

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