A History of Giggleswick School from its Foundation, 1499 to 1912

by Edward Allen Bell

PREFACE

The history of Giggleswick School has just two difficulties about it which need to be unravelled. The date of the foundation of the School or of the Chantry of the Rood and the origin of the Seal alone are of interest to the antiquary and I have failed to discover either. The remainder is the story of a school, which has always had a reputation in the educational world and at the same time has left only the most meagre records of itself. The gentry of the neighbourhood were its scholars, but few have made their fame in the world without. Headmasters and Ushers have passed their lives here, but few were ambitious. Giggleswick was their haven of old age. Customs grew up, the same customs died and only seldom is it possible to conjecture their character.

A nation without a history is considered to have had the most blessed existence and the same is true of a school. Giggleswick has but once been the prey of the brigand and then it was fortunate enough to have a friend at court. It lost its original endowment and its private character. It gained a larger revenue and a Royal Charter. The placidity of its life was undisturbed by financial deficits. Its income expanded steadily. The close corporation of Governors were never ambitious to display their wealth, they never excited the greed of the statesman; even Cromwell's army passed through the district unmentioned by the Minute-Book.

It did not grow, it made no history, but continued on the even tenour of its path. Some years it was effective as a school of instruction, some years it was not, but never did it meet with the inquisitorial landlord, never but once did it suffer from the Crown. With the nineteenth century came its first crisis for three hundred years and it passed through unhurt. A new school with the old endowments, a better education with a wider horizon, a new power with which to meet the coming needs were all engrafted on the old foundation. If romance involves moments of startling excitement, Giggleswick has no romance. But if romance lies in an unrecorded, unenvied continuity, in the affection of pupils that age after age causes men to send their sons and their sons' sons to the same school, then the history of Giggleswick is shot through with romance. No school can continue for more than a generation, if this supreme test of its hold upon the hearts of men should fail. The school that nurtured the father must do its duty by the son and the golden link of affection is forged afresh.

It would have been impossible to complete the task of writing the history of the School, if I had not received invaluable help from many sources. Two men in particular must accept my deepest gratitude—Mr. A. F. Leach and Mr. Thomas Brayshaw. Mr. Leach is the foremost authority in England on English Grammar Schools and he has never stinted his help. Mr. Brayshaw probably knows more than any other man of the history of the School during the last eighty years and he has supplied me generously with pamphlets and information. In addition he has been most assiduous in helping me to choose and decipher documents belonging to the School, which the Governors of the School were kind enough to allow me to use. The Rev. G. Style, the Rev. J. R. Wynne Edwards and many others have helped me materially with Chapters X and XI, while Mr. J. Greaves, of Christ's College, Cambridge, sent me his own copy of Volume I of the Christ's Admission Book and an advance proof copy of Volume II.

The photographs are taken from originals in the possession of Mr. A. Horner, of Settle, Mr. P. Spencer Smith and Mr. E. D. Clark. Mr. Spencer Smith in particular has gone to endless trouble in procuring photographs of every kind for the special purpose of this book.

These names by no means include all those who have helped me with advice on many occasions. I thank them all and in particular I would thank the present Headmaster, Mr. R. N. Douglas, who has put every convenience in my way and without whose co-operation the book could never have been written.

E. A. B.

Giggleswick,

June, 1912.

CONTENTS.

Chapter I.—The Foundation.

[[13-24.]

James Carr, capellanus, earliest date 1499—Rood Chantry of Giggleswick Parish Church—The Earliest Records of the Carr Family—Private Adventure School—Lease of Ground for a School-house—Terms of the Lease—Description of the first School—James Smith, a Boarder, 1516—Death of James Carr—Endowment of Chantry—Chantry Commission, 1547—Edward VI, Injunctions—Chantry Commissioners, 1548—Chaunterie of our Ladye—Tempest Chantry—Chaunterie of the Rode—Richard Carr—Thomas Iveson—Song-school.

Chapter II.—Re-foundation, 1553-1599.

[[25-38.]

John Nowell—Edward VI Charter—"Free" School—Position of the Vicar—Master and Usher—New Endowment from S. Andrew's College, Acaster—School Seal—Statutes of 1592—Archbishop of York—Election of Governors—The Master—"Strangers"—Vacations—Subjects of Instruction—The Usher—Hours of School—The Scholars—Præpositors.

Chapter III.—Schools and their Teaching in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries.

[[39-46.]

Trevisa—Ecclesiastical Control Curriculum—Trivium—Quadrivium—Lily's Latin Grammar—Custos—Hebrew—Teaching of English—The Primer—The Bible—Prayers and Thanksgivings—Scriveners—Music—Puritanism.

Chapter IV.—Christopher Shute and Robert Dockray.

[[47-64.]

Shute Minute-Book—Clapham Bequests—Scholarships at the University—Potations—Tennant's Gift—Tennant's Bequest—Josias Shute—Burton Rent-charge—Election of Scholars—Purchase of the School Building—Richard Carr—Scholarships and Fellowships at Christ's—Tempest Thornton—Thomas Atherton—Carr Exhibitions at the Present Day—Resignation of Shute—Appreciation of his Work—Josias Shute's Bequest—Robert Dockray—Henry Claphamson, Usher—Rev. Rowland Lucas.

Chapter V.—The Close of the Seventeenth Century.

[[65-76.]

Rev. Rowland Lucas, Head Scoulmaster—Giggleswick and Cambridge—Anthony Lister, Vicar—Abraham de la Prynne—Richard Frankland—Founder of Nonconformity—Rathmell Academy—Samuel Watson, a Quaker Governor—William Walker, Master—William Brigge, Master—Shute Exhibitions—Increased Rents from School Estates—Governors lend out Money—Extract from Account Book—Thomas Wildeman—John Armitstead, Master—Richard Ellershaw, Vicar—Poor Fund—Joshua Whitaker—Character of Armitstead—Successes at Cambridge.

Chapter VI.—The Eighteenth Century.

[[77-109.]

John Carr, A.B.—A Family Circle—Richard Thornton—Conditions of Mastership—Collection of Rent and Masters' Stipends—John Cookson, "probe edoctus"—William Paley, Master—The Paleys of Langcliffe—William Paley, the Younger—Career at Cambridge—Charles Nowell in Lancaster Gaol—Dispute over his Successor as Governor—Paley and John Moore, Usher, and their Stipends—The Archbishop's Judicious Letter—Enclosures—Mortgage of North Cave Estate—Teaching of Writing—Elementary Education—Increase of Revenue—A Third Master—Purchase of Books—Burton Exhibitions—Re-building of School—New Statutes—Attitude of the Vicar—Rev. John Clapham—Bishop Watson of Llandaff on Classical Teaching—Educational Status of Giggleswick—Applicant's Letter for post of Writing Master—Robert Kidd—Distribution of Prizes to Scholars—Re-adjustment of Salaries—Nicholas Wood, Usher—Obadiah Clayton, Classical Assistant—Numbers of the School—Vacations—Miss Elizabeth Paley—Death of William Paley—Estimate of his Work—Old Boys—Letter from T. Kidd on Life at Cambridge.

Chapter VII.—The Rev. Rowland Ingram.

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Appointment of a New Master—Suggested Examiners—Qualifications Necessary—Strong Field of Candidates—Appointment of Ingram—Elementary Education—William Stackhouse, Writing Master—Clayton's Insanity—Increased Numbers—Increased Revenues—Commissioners of 1825—Rev. John Howson—Craven Bank—Usher's House—Letter from John Carr—John Saul Howson—Character of Ingram's Rule—Potation.

Chapter VIII.—Dr. George Ash Butterton, 1845-1858.

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Attitude of the Governors—Aim of Education—Scheme of 1844—Its Defects—Bishop of Ripon—Appointment of Butterton—New School Built—Description—Prize Poems—Hastings' Exhibition—Bishop of Ripon's Examiner's Report—Giggleswick Pupils Prize—Howson Prize—Modern Language Master—Curriculum of the School Examination 1855—Admittance of Pupils—Difficulties of Butterton—Illness of Howson—Fig Day—Payments by Scholars—Glazier's Bills—Efficiency of the School.

Chapter IX.—The Rev. John Richard Blakiston, 1858-1866.

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Blakiston appointed Master—Matthew Wood, Usher—John Langhorne—Arthur Brewin—Examiner's Report—Decrease of Numbers—Difficulties of the Scheme of 1844—Blakiston and Wood—Master's House Unfit for Boarders—Pronunciation of Greek and Latin—Mr. James Foster—Charity Commissioners—New Scheme 1864—New Governing Body—Sir James Kay Shuttleworth—Walter Morrison—Fig Day—School Clock—Ingram Prize—Resignation of Usher—Preliminaries for a New Scheme—Suspension of Usher's Office—Inspector's Report 1863—Free Education—Inspector's Report 1865—Development of New Scheme—Resignation of Mr. Blakiston—Purchase of Football Field—Proposals for Hostel.

Chapter X.—A New Era.

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Temporary Headmaster—Thomas Bramley—Michael Forster—Hostel—Rev. George Style—Private Boarding House—Endowed Schools Act 1869—New Scheme of Management 1872—Free Education—Shute Exhibitions—Increase of Numbers—Natural Science—Dr W. Marshall Watts—Purchase of Holywell Toft—Additions to the Hostel—New Class-rooms—Gymnasium—Success at the Universities—Death of Sir James Kay Shuttleworth—Lord Frederick Cavendish—Mr. Hector Christie—Giggleswick Church Restoration—Athletics—Giggleswick v. Sedbergh—Music—Charles Frederick Hyde—School Library—G. B. Mannock—Bankwell—Arthur Brewin—Fire in the Laboratory—Educational Exhibition—Museum—Old Boys' Club—Numbers in the School—Craven Bank—Hollybank—Giggleswick Chronicle—Boer War.

Chapter XI.—The Chapel.

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Mr. Morrison's offer—Aim of Architecture—The Purpose of a Dome—Value of a School Chapel—Foundation Stone laid—Interior of the Chapel—Organ—Dome—Windows—Cricket Pavilion—Gate-house—Mr. Morrison's Portrait—Mr. Style's Resignation—His Work—Praepostors—Fagging—Schoolboys' Tower—Mr. Style's Enthusiasm—Ascension Day—Secret of his power.

Chapter XII.—The Last Decade.

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W. W. Vaughan—Changes made—Importance of English—Higher Certificate—Resignation of Dr. Watts—Style Mathematical Prizes—Waugh Prize—Dormitories Re-named—Gate-house—Giggleswick Boys' Club—Sub-target Rifle Machine—Quater-Centenary—Fives Courts—Inspection—Carr Exhibitions—Death of Mr. Mannock—O.T.C.—Improvement of Cricket Ground—Athletics—Scar-Rigg Cup—Headmaster and Wellington—Mr. Vaughan's Work—R. N. Douglas—Death of Mr. Bearcroft—Sergeant-Major Cansdale—Quater-Centenary.

Appendix.	[[230-284.]
Index.	[[285-294.]