Arthur Herman Gilkes
Encyclopedia
Arthur Herman Gilkes MA, (1849 - 13 September 1922) was a noted educationalist, author
, and clergyman, and was Master of Dulwich College
from 1885 to 1914.
, the son of William Gilkes a chemist. He was educated at Shrewsbury School
and went on to Christ Church, Oxford
from where he received a First Class Honours degree in Literae Humaniores
in 1872 having achieved a first class in Mods in 1870. He received his MA in 1885. On 19 May 1892 he married Millicent Mary Clarke, the daughter of Bennett Michell Clarke, and sister of three brothers who attended Dulwich College
. He had four sons (all of whom went to Dulwich College) and one daughter, one of whom, Christopher would later also become the Master of Dulwich College.
. From Shrewsbury he left for London to become the Master of Dulwich College from 1885 to 1914. The work he did at Dulwich College raised its reputation considerably, and he did this with only modest financial resources. During his tenure Dulwich became renowned for a number of areas notably including engineering and science. It was also A H Gilkes who first accepted London County Council
scholars from elementary schools.
His being emersed in the life of the school went beyond that of an administrator and a teacher, for he also had extensive family ties with the school. All four of his sons went to the school, as did his three brothers-in-law, three nephews and his first cousin.
Following his retirement from Dulwich College in 1914 he became ordained in 1915 and acted as the Curate
of St James Church, Bermondsey
for a year. He was also Vicar of St Mary Magdalen's Church, Oxford from 1917.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and clergyman, and was Master of Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
from 1885 to 1914.
Early life
He was born in LeominsterLeominster
Leominster is a market town in Herefordshire, England, located approximately north of the city of Hereford and south of Ludlow, at...
, the son of William Gilkes a chemist. He was educated at Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and went on to Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
from where he received a First Class Honours degree in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
in 1872 having achieved a first class in Mods in 1870. He received his MA in 1885. On 19 May 1892 he married Millicent Mary Clarke, the daughter of Bennett Michell Clarke, and sister of three brothers who attended Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
. He had four sons (all of whom went to Dulwich College) and one daughter, one of whom, Christopher would later also become the Master of Dulwich College.
Career
Having completed his education he went on to become Assistant Master from 1873 to 1885 at Shrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
. From Shrewsbury he left for London to become the Master of Dulwich College from 1885 to 1914. The work he did at Dulwich College raised its reputation considerably, and he did this with only modest financial resources. During his tenure Dulwich became renowned for a number of areas notably including engineering and science. It was also A H Gilkes who first accepted London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
scholars from elementary schools.
His being emersed in the life of the school went beyond that of an administrator and a teacher, for he also had extensive family ties with the school. All four of his sons went to the school, as did his three brothers-in-law, three nephews and his first cousin.
Following his retirement from Dulwich College in 1914 he became ordained in 1915 and acted as the Curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of St James Church, Bermondsey
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
for a year. He was also Vicar of St Mary Magdalen's Church, Oxford from 1917.
Publications
- School lectures on Electra and MacBeth;
- Boys and Masters
- The Thing that Hath Been
- Kallistratus
- The New Revolution
- A Dialogue
- A Day at Dulwich
- Four Sons
Further reading
- W R M LeakeWilliam Leake (rugby player)William Ralph Martin Leake was an English rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and the Harlequins and international rugby for England. In 1890 Leake became one of the original members of the Barbarians Football Club.Leake also played cricket as a youth, representing...
, (1928), Gilkes and Dulwich, 1885-1914: A Study of a Great Headmaster, (Published: Alleyn Club) - Hodges, S, (1981), God's Gift: A Living History of Dulwich College, (Heinemann: London)