by a cross: service is performed here, only once a fortnight; proceeding on in the same direction, we arrive at the Anabaptist chapel, a respectable building of some antiquity, a little to the left of which is the Friends’ meeting house, in a very pretty retired situation. The Wesleyan chapel was erected in Brunswick place, A.D. 1832, it is simple in its style, but exceedingly neat, elegant, and appropriate: the last religious edifice in Horsham, is the Baptist’s chapel,
situated in New Street, it much resembles the Independant’s in its exterior appearance.
“Richard Collier by his will dated Jan 23 1532, benevolently left a small estate, at Stratford le Bow in the county of Middlesex to be sold, and the product to be laid out in the purchase of a school house at Horsham, where he was born.” [31] The children enjoying the privileges of this charity, are annually
selected by the vicar and churchwardens with eight of the most “honest” inhabitants, they are allowed to remain till the age of 14 and any number may at the discretion of the school wardens, be instructed in the Latin language. It is expressly ordered in the will, that the children elected, should be the offspring of “poor people, in especial of the said parish, and next about the same, to be educated in reading, writing, arithmetic, and the principles of the Christian religion.” The charitable founder also bequeathed to the Mercers’ Company, a house and premises in Cheapside London, for the support of the master and usher, whose annual salaries are, 120l. for the former, and 80l. for the latter. The school house is situated in a peculiarly delightful and romantic situation, with a pleasant croft in front, extending to the east side of the church yard; the accompanying
wood-cut represents the west front of the building.
The National School is held in the church porch, where great numbers of the younger children of the poor are instructed.
A very neat building, denominated Denne School, has been erected in a delightful situation, at the foot of the hill, from which it takes its name, for the education of the girls of the neigbouring indigent persons.
In the back lane, the members of the church of England, have instituted an infant school, which appears a very pleasant object in this hitherto neglected portion of the town.