The school is open for the gratuitous instruction of burgesses of Shrewsbury, who are not under six nor more than sixteen years of age, provided they are qualified to begin the Latin accidence. By act of parliament, 38th George III., the whole management of the school and revenue was vested in the Bishop of Lichfield, as visitor, and thirteen governors and trustees. The appointment of head master rests with the Fellows of St. John’s College, Cambridge. The under master is appointed by the head master. Among the many persons of eminence who have received their education in this school, we may enumerate Sir Philip Sidney; Sir Fulke Greville; Lord Brook; Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York; Judge Jeffries; Lord Chief Justice Jones; Dr. Bowers; Bishop of Chichester; Dr. Thomas Bishop, Salisbury; Dr. Taylor, editor of Lysias and Demosthenes; James Harrington, the author of Oceana; Wycherley, the dramatist; Ambrose Phillips, the poet; and the Rev. J. B. Blakeway and the Venerable Archdeacon Owen, the learned historians of Shrewsbury. Through the exertions and learning of the late venerable head master, Dr. Butler (late Bishop of Lichfield), the school attained to unrivalled celebrity, and the learned prelate observed, on resigning his arduous duties to his talented successor, “That he considered Dr. Kennedy as the most brilliant scholar he had ever sent forth, as the brightest star in that galaxy of distinguished pupils whose names adorn the ‘boards’ of Shrewsbury school. That from Dr. Kennedy’s experience of his system, both as a pupil and assistant master at Shrewsbury school, from his constant practice as a lecturer and private tutor at College, and as an assistant master for six years or more at Harrow, as well as from his own unrivalled talents and high literary distinction, from his fine taste and sound learning, there was not a shadow of doubt but that he would fully maintain the reputation which Shrewsbury school had already acquired, and would add at least as many distinguished names to its ‘boards,’ during his superintendence of this important foundation, as had been inscribed there by himself in an equal period.” We are happy to observe that the bright anticipations of the venerable bishop have been already realised. By an act of parliament, passed 33rd George III., for the better government and regulation of the Free Grammar School in Shrewsbury, it was ordered, that, after the payment of all taxes, salaries, scholarships, exhibitions, and repairs of the school, and all expenses about the necessary business of the school, the surplus should be employed in founding and maintaining exhibitions in the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, as the governors and the bishop of the diocese for the time being should think fit; and that such surplus should, when and as often as it should amount to £100 or upwards, be laid out in the purchase of lands and tenements, or in the purchase of stock, or in such other way as the governors and bishop should deem advisable. At this period the annual income of the school amounted to £900.
From the Charity Commissioners’ Report, published in 1830, we learn that the total income of the school property for the year ending December 31st, 1828, amounted to £2,740. 2s. 9d. The following will show the particulars of the property held by the governors:—The tithes of Albrighton, in the parish of St. Mary, £101. 15s. 6d.; the tithes of Chirbury, £1,045. 13s. 4d.; tithes of Clive, in the parish of St. Mary, £347. 13s.; tithes of Astley, £221. 15s.; tithes of Oxon and Shelton, £71. 4s.; tithes of Frankwell, £56. 14s.; tithes of Betton, £129. 1s.; tithes of Whitley and Welbatch, £99.; tithes of Leaton, £150; tithes of Wollascot, £13.; tithes of Woodcote, Horton, Bicton, and Calcot, £397.; tithes of Almond Park, Berwick, and Newton, £52. 10s.; tithes from Castle Foregate, £18. 18s.; schoolhouse at Grinshill, built in pursuance of one of the orders of Thomas Ashton, for the scholars to retire to in case of infectious disorders, let for £4. 4s.; spiritual jurisdiction of St. Mary’s, demised by the corporation to the Rev. W. G. Rowland, the office of the said ecclesiastical, spiritual, peculiar, and exempt jurisdiction, with all the profits thereto belonging, and the seal of office for twenty-one years, at the yearly rent of £1. 6s. 8d., payable to the governors and trustees of the Free Grammar School, dated 29th January, 1828; Chief rents at Astley and Sansaw, 18s. 3d.; for encroachments on school garden, 3s.; and £30 per annum arising from the sum of £1,000 invested in the three per cent. consols, purchased in 1828. In January, 1829, the amount of stock was £14,570. 10s. 4d. three per cent consols. This was subsequently reduced by sales, made under the directions of the Court of Chancery, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of repairs on the estates, to £13,311. 19s. 6d.
The income arising from the school property now (1851) amounts to upwards of £3,000 per annum, which is appropriated in the payment of the salaries of the masters, the maintenance of scholarships and exhibitions in the universities, the stipend of the Vicar of Chirbury, and the curates of St. Mary’s, Clive, and Astley, and the necessary repairs of the school buildings. The surplus is employed in founding additional exhibitions in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The following list will show the great advantage presented to meritorious scholars of Shrewsbury School:—Four exhibitions, of £63 each, founded by James Millington, D.D., in 1724, at Magdalen College, Cambridge, tenable during residence till M.A.; two exhibitions of £40 each, founded by the same donor, for sons of burgesses born in Frankwell, and who have been educated at the school, in Millington’s Hospital, founded by the testator; also one fellowship of £126 per annum at Magdalen College, tenable during residence till M.A.; one exhibition, of £23 per annum, founded by the Rev. John Taylor, D.D., in 1766, open to any college. The scholars chosen are allowed to enjoy the exhibition for the term of six years, provided they reside in the college the greater part of each term. One exhibition of £10 per annum, the gift of Mr. Noneley; one of £30 per annum, founded by Mr. Podmore. There are also four foundation exhibitions of £70 per annum each; one Butler foundation of £100 per annum; and one of £66 per annum;—all limited to the sons of burgesses of Shrewsbury. Two exhibitions, founded by Oswald Smith, of £25 per annum; four exhibitions to Christ Church, Oxford, founded by Mr. Careswell, in 1689, for natives of Shropshire, of £60 per annum.
Head Master: Rev. Benjamin Hall Kennedy, D.D.—Second Master: Rev. William Burbury, M.A.—Assistant Master: Rev. John Mort Wakefield, M.A.—Mathematical Teacher: Rev. Alfred Tolver Paget, M.A.—Assistant Master: Rev. Vanden Bempde Johnstone, M.A.—Modern Languages: Mr. Thomas Amand Bentley.—Writing Master: Mr. Thomas Northage Henshaw. The head master has a salary of £300 per annum, and the second master £150.
Bowdler’s, or the Blue School, situated in Beeches-lane, a plain brick building with a cupola, was founded in 1724, pursuant to the will of Mr. Thomas Bowdler, alderman and draper, for the instruction, clothing, and apprenticeing poor children of St. Julian’s parish. Twenty-five boys and an equal number of girls are now educated and clothed; the dress of the children is blue, whence the school is called “The Blue School.” The master has a salary of £40 per annum, and the privilege of taking twenty day scholars, and the mistress £20 per annum. Robert Rogerson and Mary Ann Sharrat are the teachers. The foundation of the several charity schools will be more particularly noticed with the general charities of the borough.
Allatt’s Charity School, situate in St. John’s-row, is a neat structure of free stone, comprising commodious houses for the master and mistress, connected by arcades, with spacious school rooms. The school was built in 1800, pursuant to the will of Mr. John Allatt, who bequeathed his property for the educating and clothing of the children of the more respectable class of poor persons resident in the town. There are forty boys and forty girls educated, clothed once a year, and a certain number at a proper age apprenticed. The funds of the school consist of a capital stock of £14,200, of which £10,800 are invested in three per cents, as the educational fund, and £3,400 as a clothing fund. Thomas Bagley and Frances Buttery are the teachers.
Millington’s School stands in the rear of the hospital, and was founded by the munificence of Mr. Millington, for the instruction of twenty-five boys, and as many girls, natives of Frankwell. The children are completely clothed twice in every year, and at the age of fourteen apprenticed with a small premium; on producing a certificate of good conduct during their apprenticeship they are rewarded with a gratuity. Two exhibitions of £40 a year each, in Magdalen College, Cambridge, are founded, to which scholars originally on the hospital foundation have the preference, or in default of such, two born in Frankwell, educated at the free schools. Sarah Bishop and Francis Cullis are the teachers.
Shrewsbury National School, situated in the Abbey Fore gate, is also called the “Brown School,” from the brown dress of the children. The schools are commodious, and there is a convenient residence for the teachers. It is supported by subscriptions, and sermons annually preached in aid of its funds. There are now 190 boys and 96 girls educated in this school. Joseph Barker Molynaux and Mary Ann Williamson are the teachers. The annual income amounts to £250 per annum.
St. Chad’s Parochial School is a plain substantial edifice, situated in Barker-street. It is supported by subscriptions and donations, and a small weekly sum contributed by the children. The average number of children that attend the school may be calculated at a hundred boys and an equal number of girls. Edward Evans and Jane E. Turner are teachers.
Holy Trinity School is a spacious building of brick, situated in the rear of the Holy Trinity Church, at Coleham; a residence for the teachers adjoins the school. There are about 100 boys and girls, and 120 infants, receiving instructions in these schools. James Owen and Martha Clarke are the teachers.