Felsted School
Encyclopedia
Felsted School, an English co-educational day and boarding independent school
, situated in Felsted
, Essex
. It is in the British Public School
tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
(also known as Riche) who, as Lord Chancellor
and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations
, acquired considerable wealth from the spoils of the Dissolution of the Monasteries
including the nearby Leez Priory
, which he enlarged and made his own home. Felsted is one of the 12 founder members of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
, and is also a full member of the Round Square Conference
of world schools. Felsted School won Good School Guide award twice.
families in the 17th century, numbering a hundred or more pupils, under Martin Holbeach, Headmaster from 1627–1649, and his successors (see below). John Wallis and Isaac Barrow
were educated at Felsted in this period, as were four of Oliver Cromwell
's sons.
Another era of prosperity set in under the headmastership of William Trivett between 1778 and 1794; but under his successors numbers dwindled. As the result of the discovery by Thomas Surridge (headmaster 1835–1850), from research among the records, that a larger income was really due to the foundation, a reorganization took place by Act of Parliament
, and in 1851,under the headmastership of the Rev. Albert Henry Wratislaw
, the school was put under a new governing body (a revised scheme coming into operation in 1876). As a result, Felsted developed rapidly into one of the regular public schools of the modern English type, under the Rev. W. S. Grignon, who may almost be considered the second founder. New buildings were built on an elaborate scale, numbers increased to more than 200, and a complete transformation took place, which was continued under Grignon's successors, including Frank Stephenson, under whom large extensions to the buildings and playing-fields were made. These additions allowed admittances up to 475 pupils, nearly all of whom are boarders.
The school was evacuated to Goodrich Court
in Herefordshire
during the Second World War. Major building works took place for the 400th anniversary celebrations in 1964, when the Queen Mother
laid the foundation stone for the then new Music School, subsequently opened by Felsted governor Lord Butler of Saffron Walden
, (formerly Rab Butler
). In 2008 this building was replaced by a larger new building which was opened in 2009 by Dame
Evelyn Glennie
. The Princess Royal
opened the new Lord Riche Hall in 1989. Girls were taken into the Sixth Form in 1970, and into the whole school in 1993.
Boys' boarding houses:
Day houses:
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, situated in Felsted
Felsted
Felsted is linked to Little Dunmow by the Flitch Way Country Park, a former railway line. The village has links to Lord Riche who founded the public school, The Felsted School, in 1564, and is buried in Holy Cross Church. Lord Riche was an important benefactor of the Felsted church. The school also...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. It is in the British Public School
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
Sir Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich , was Lord Chancellor during the reign of King Edward VI of England. He was the founder of Felsted School with its associated alms houses in Essex in 1564....
(also known as Riche) who, as Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations
Court of Augmentations
The Court of Augmentations was established during the reign of King Henry VIII of England along with three lesser courts following the dissolution of the monasteries. Its primary function was to gain better control over the land and finances formerly held by the Roman Catholic Church in the kingdom...
, acquired considerable wealth from the spoils of the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
including the nearby Leez Priory
Leez Priory
-History:In 1220, Sir Ralph Gernon decided that the hamlet of Leez, in a dip by the banks of the River Ter, would provide the perfect location on which to found his monastery. His Augustinian priory thrived for over 300 years until King Henry VIII sent Sir Richard Rich to dismiss the monastery...
, which he enlarged and made his own home. Felsted is one of the 12 founder members of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference is an association of the headmasters or headmistressess of 243 leading day and boarding independent schools in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and the Republic of Ireland...
, and is also a full member of the Round Square Conference
Round Square
The Round Square Conference of Schools is a worldwide association of more than 80 schools that allows students to travel between schools,tour foreign countries, involve themselves in community service and discover cultures along the way.-History:...
of world schools. Felsted School won Good School Guide award twice.
History
The school became a notable educational centre for PuritanPuritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
families in the 17th century, numbering a hundred or more pupils, under Martin Holbeach, Headmaster from 1627–1649, and his successors (see below). John Wallis and Isaac Barrow
Isaac Barrow
Isaac Barrow was an English Christian theologian, and mathematician who is generally given credit for his early role in the development of infinitesimal calculus; in particular, for the discovery of the fundamental theorem of calculus. His work centered on the properties of the tangent; Barrow was...
were educated at Felsted in this period, as were four of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's sons.
Another era of prosperity set in under the headmastership of William Trivett between 1778 and 1794; but under his successors numbers dwindled. As the result of the discovery by Thomas Surridge (headmaster 1835–1850), from research among the records, that a larger income was really due to the foundation, a reorganization took place by Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
, and in 1851,under the headmastership of the Rev. Albert Henry Wratislaw
Albert Henry Wratislaw
Albert Henry Wratislaw was an English Slavonic scholar, of Czech descent.The grandson of an émigré of 1790, and son of William Ferdinand, 'Count' Wratislaw von Mitro-vitz , a solicitor of Rugby, by his wife, Charlotte Anne , was born at Rugby on 5 Nov. 1822. He entered Rugby School, aged seven, on...
, the school was put under a new governing body (a revised scheme coming into operation in 1876). As a result, Felsted developed rapidly into one of the regular public schools of the modern English type, under the Rev. W. S. Grignon, who may almost be considered the second founder. New buildings were built on an elaborate scale, numbers increased to more than 200, and a complete transformation took place, which was continued under Grignon's successors, including Frank Stephenson, under whom large extensions to the buildings and playing-fields were made. These additions allowed admittances up to 475 pupils, nearly all of whom are boarders.
The school was evacuated to Goodrich Court
Goodrich Court
Goodrich Court was a 19th century, neo-gothic castle built by the antiquarian Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick in Goodrich, Herefordshire in 1828.Samuel Meyrick was a noted antiquarian with a strong interest in Welsh history and claimed, incorrectly, to be related to the Welsh prince Owain Gwynedd. Meyrick...
in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
during the Second World War. Major building works took place for the 400th anniversary celebrations in 1964, when the Queen Mother
Queen mother
Queen Mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that marriage is the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since at least 1577...
laid the foundation stone for the then new Music School, subsequently opened by Felsted governor Lord Butler of Saffron Walden
Rab Butler
Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG CH DL PC , who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British Conservative politician...
, (formerly Rab Butler
Rab Butler
Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG CH DL PC , who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British Conservative politician...
). In 2008 this building was replaced by a larger new building which was opened in 2009 by Dame
Dame (title)
The title of Dame is the female equivalent of the honour of knighthood in the British honours system . It is also the equivalent form address to 'Sir' for a knight...
Evelyn Glennie
Evelyn Glennie
Dame Evelyn Elizabeth Ann Glennie, DBE is a Scottish virtuoso percussionist. She was the first full-time solo percussionist in 20th-century western society.-Early life:Glennie was born and raised in Aberdeenshire...
. The Princess Royal
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
opened the new Lord Riche Hall in 1989. Girls were taken into the Sixth Form in 1970, and into the whole school in 1993.
Houses
Girls' boarding houses:- Stocks's
- Follyfield
- Garnetts
- Thorne
Boys' boarding houses:
- Elywn's
- Gepp's
- Deacon's
- Windsor's
Day houses:
- Manor
- Montgomery's
Headmasters
- 1564–1566 - Rev. John Daubeney
- 1566–1576 - Rev. John Berryman, MA (d. 1617)
- 1576–1596 - Rev. Henry Greenwood, MA
- 1597–1627 - Rev. George Manning, BA
- 1627–1649 - Rev. Martin Holbeach, MA (1600–1670)
- 1650–1690 - Rev. Christopher Glascock, MA, OF (d. 1690)
- 1690–1712 - Rev. Simon Lydiatt, MA (1659–1713)
- 1713–1725 - Rev. Hugh Hutchin, MA (1678–1725)
- 1725–1750 - Rev. John Wyatt (1698–1750)
- 1750–1778 - Rev. William Drake
- 1778–1794 - Rev. William Trivett (1745–1830)
- 1794–1813 - Rev. William John Carless, BA (1770–1813)
- 1813–1835 - Rev. Edmund Squire, MA (1780–1853)
- 1835–1850 - Rev. Thomas Surridge
- 1850–1855 - Rev. Albert Henry WratislawAlbert Henry WratislawAlbert Henry Wratislaw was an English Slavonic scholar, of Czech descent.The grandson of an émigré of 1790, and son of William Ferdinand, 'Count' Wratislaw von Mitro-vitz , a solicitor of Rugby, by his wife, Charlotte Anne , was born at Rugby on 5 Nov. 1822. He entered Rugby School, aged seven, on...
, MA (1822–1892) - 1856–1875 - Rev. William Stanford Grignon, MA (1824–1907)
- 1875–1890 - Rev. Delaval Shafto Ingram, MA (1840–1920)
- 1890–1906 - Rev. Herbert Andrew Dalton (b. 1852)
- 1906–1933 - Rev. Frank Stephenson, MA (1871–1936)
- 1933–1943 - Rev. Kenneth Julian Faithful Bickersteth, MA (1885–1962)
- 1943–1947 - Alistair Andrew, BA (1908–1947)
- 1947–1951 - C.M. Harrison
- 1951–1968 - Henry E. Reekie, MA
- 1968–1982 - Anthony F. Eggleston, OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- 1983–1993 - Edward Gould MA, FRGSRoyal Geographical SocietyThe Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
, FRSARoyal Society of ArtsThe Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
(b. 1943) - 1993–2008 - Stephen C. Roberts
- 2008- - Dr Michael Walker
Books
- Michael Craze, Felsted School: A Short History, Felsted School, 1965.
- Michael Craze, A History of Felsted School, 1564-1947, Cowell, 1955.
- John Sargeaunt, History of Felsted School, 1889.
- R.J. Beevor, E.T. Roberts, Alumni Felstedienses, 1903.