Hele's School, Exeter
Encyclopedia
Hele's School was a boys' grammar school
, and latterly a comprehensive school, in the city of Exeter
, Devon
, England
.
was born in 1560 at Winston Manor near Plympton
, Devon
. He was a lawyer of the Inner Temple
in London
, had been treasurer to James I
and was a major property owner in South and West Devon
. Following the death of his only child, Walter, at the age of 11, Hele decided to bequeath a number of his estates for “some godly purposes and charitable uses”. He died in 1635 and was buried in Exeter Cathedral
.
In 1656 his trustees, Sir John Maynard
and Elize Stert apportioned money for the foundation of the Blue Maid's Hospital (later renamed The Maynard School
) and, in 1658 for the establishment of Hele's School in Plympton.
For nearly 200 years, the immediate descendants of Sir J. Maynard received the remaining income from the bequest and distributed it to private charities as they thought fit Legal proceedings resulted in depriving the descendant of Sir J. Maynard (the surviving trustee) of all control over the funds, which were thereupon vested in the Crown.
a grant of £1500 for the building of a boys' school, with a further £300 a year for its continual maintenance.
Hele’s Endowed School opened on 15 January 1850 in Hele Road, St David’s Exeter with a capacity for 88 boys who received instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, mathematics, English grammar and history. Those under 10 years old paid 21s, and those over 42s per year.
The school buildings were extended in 1909 and in 1921 it came under the control of Exeter City Council. In 1931, further new buildings were added, designed by the City Architect. In 1938 plans were mooted to relocate the school to Quarry Lane in Heavitree
, but these were put in abeyance due to the Second World War.
On 1 November 1938 the first School Squadron of the Air Cadet Defence Corps in Great Britain
was founded at Hele's School as No.13 Squadron of the Air League
. The squadron evolved into the school’s combined cadet force.
In 1959, the school moved to a new site at Southam Farm, next to Quarry Lane, and the Hele Road site was taken over by Exeter College
. During the summer of 2005, many of the old Hele's Buildings at Exeter College were demolished to make way for new facilities, although some of the Gothic Revival
buildings from the 1850s remain.
The school war memorial, 13 feet wide and made of English oak designed by Harry Hems & Co., was relocated to the entrance of the main school hall.
to Devon County Council
under local government reorganisation and Hele's School lost its status as a grammar school becoming a Comprehensive. The school's sixth form was also abolished, with pupils moving to Exeter College on completion of GCE O Levels.
The main school buildings were demolished in 2005 to make way for a brand new St Peter’s School building. The War Memorial was relocated to the balcony of the new school hall.
As a result of the rebuilding five oval solid oak library tables, which were made by the Harry Hems company in 1930 and presented to Hele's School in memory of its late Headmaster Mr F G Snowball, and funded by private subscription, were removed to Exeter School
in 2006.
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, and latterly a comprehensive school, in the city of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Elize Hele’s bequest
Elize HeleElize Hele
Elize Hele or Elizeus Hele was an English lawyer and philanthropist. In 1632, Hele transferred his lands into a trust that was intended for "pious uses". The trustees included his wife, John Hele and a number of trusted friends...
was born in 1560 at Winston Manor near Plympton
Plympton
Plympton, or Plympton Maurice or Plympton St Maurice or Plympton St Mary or Plympton Erle, in south-western Devon, England is an ancient stannary town: an important trading centre in the past for locally mined tin, and a former seaport...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. He was a lawyer of the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, had been treasurer to James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
and was a major property owner in South and West Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. Following the death of his only child, Walter, at the age of 11, Hele decided to bequeath a number of his estates for “some godly purposes and charitable uses”. He died in 1635 and was buried in Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
.
In 1656 his trustees, Sir John Maynard
John Maynard (MP)
Sir John Maynard KS was an English lawyer and politician, prominent under the reigns of Charles I, the Commonwealth, Charles II, James II and William III.-Origins and education:...
and Elize Stert apportioned money for the foundation of the Blue Maid's Hospital (later renamed The Maynard School
The Maynard School
The Maynard School is an independent and selective day school for girls aged 7–18 in the city of Exeter in Devon. It is one of the leading girls day schools in the UK, with an excellent academic reputation in both public exams and university entrance. Currently, there are approximately 420 day...
) and, in 1658 for the establishment of Hele's School in Plympton.
For nearly 200 years, the immediate descendants of Sir J. Maynard received the remaining income from the bequest and distributed it to private charities as they thought fit Legal proceedings resulted in depriving the descendant of Sir J. Maynard (the surviving trustee) of all control over the funds, which were thereupon vested in the Crown.
The first school
The Government made to the inhabitants of ExeterExeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
a grant of £1500 for the building of a boys' school, with a further £300 a year for its continual maintenance.
Hele’s Endowed School opened on 15 January 1850 in Hele Road, St David’s Exeter with a capacity for 88 boys who received instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, mathematics, English grammar and history. Those under 10 years old paid 21s, and those over 42s per year.
The school buildings were extended in 1909 and in 1921 it came under the control of Exeter City Council. In 1931, further new buildings were added, designed by the City Architect. In 1938 plans were mooted to relocate the school to Quarry Lane in Heavitree
Heavitree
Heavitree is a district of Exeter, Devon, England. Part of the historic district is currently one of the wards for elections to the City Council. Formerly an independent Urban District, it became a part of Exeter in 1913...
, but these were put in abeyance due to the Second World War.
On 1 November 1938 the first School Squadron of the Air Cadet Defence Corps in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
was founded at Hele's School as No.13 Squadron of the Air League
Air League
For the Air League , see Australian Air LeagueThe Air League is an aviation society in the United Kingdom, founded in 1909.The aims and mission of the Air League are to promote the cause of British aviation by:...
. The squadron evolved into the school’s combined cadet force.
In 1959, the school moved to a new site at Southam Farm, next to Quarry Lane, and the Hele Road site was taken over by Exeter College
Exeter College
Exeter College may refer to:* Exeter College, Oxford a college of Oxford University* Exeter College, Exeter a college in Exeter, Devon...
. During the summer of 2005, many of the old Hele's Buildings at Exeter College were demolished to make way for new facilities, although some of the Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
buildings from the 1850s remain.
The second school
Work commenced on a new school building, designed by William (Bill) Chapple under the direction of Vinton Hall the city architect, in Quarry Lane in 1958 and the new school opened its doors on 1 September 1959. The school also took over the old army camp site used by Exeter Technical School on the other side of the Exeter by-pass. This became known as “The Annex” – a concrete footbridge over the by-pass (still standing) connected the two sites. The school was now Exeter’s boy’s grammar school, entrance to which was by the Eleven plus exam. Bishop Blackall School was Exeter’s girls grammar school.The school war memorial, 13 feet wide and made of English oak designed by Harry Hems & Co., was relocated to the entrance of the main school hall.
Comprehensive
In 1973 control of the school passed from Exeter City CouncilExeter City Council
Exeter City Council is the council and local government of the city of Exeter, Devon.The City Council provides a range of services within the city including housing, refuse collections and recycling, planning, economic development, tourism, leisure and arts facilities and activities...
to Devon County Council
Devon County Council
Devon County Council is the county council administering the English county of Devon. Based in the city of Exeter, the council covers the non-metropolitan county area of Devon...
under local government reorganisation and Hele's School lost its status as a grammar school becoming a Comprehensive. The school's sixth form was also abolished, with pupils moving to Exeter College on completion of GCE O Levels.
Merger
In 1983 Hele's was merged with Bishop Blackall school on the Quarry Lane site and was renamed St Peter's. Considerable remodelling of the school building took place and the Annex was abandoned and later demolished to make way for a housing development.The main school buildings were demolished in 2005 to make way for a brand new St Peter’s School building. The War Memorial was relocated to the balcony of the new school hall.
As a result of the rebuilding five oval solid oak library tables, which were made by the Harry Hems company in 1930 and presented to Hele's School in memory of its late Headmaster Mr F G Snowball, and funded by private subscription, were removed to Exeter School
Exeter School
Exeter School is a selective independent co-educational day school for pupils between the ages of 7 and 18 located in Exeter, Devon, England. In 2010 there were around 180 pupils in the Junior School and 670 in the Senior School...
in 2006.
Notable former pupils
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- Donald Barber (1936-2000) - Astronomer
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from 1986–97, and of the Student Loans Company from 1998–2001 - Sir Edwin Chapman-Andrews CMG OBE, Ambassador to Sudan from 1956–61 and to Lebanon from 1952-6
- Frank Horne CBE, President from 1957-8 of the British Grassland Society
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CBE (1908–92), President from 1972-4 of the British Agricultural History Society - Prof John Ingram, Professor of Dermatology from 1958-63 at the University of Durham, President from 1947-8 of the British Association of Dermatologists
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from 1964-8 - Rev Cecil Northcott, Editor from 1945-70 of The Christian CenturyThe Christian CenturyThe Christian Century is a Christian magazine based in Chicago, Illinois. Considered the flagship magazine of U.S. mainline Protestantism, the biweekly reports on religious news; comments on theological, moral, and cultural issues; and reviews books, movies, and music...
- Louis Osman, architect
- William Palfrey CBE, Chief Constable of Lancashire ConstabularyLancashire ConstabularyLancashire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the ceremonial county of Lancashire in the North West England. The force's headquarters are at Hutton, near the city of Preston...
from 1969–72 - Prof John Raymont OBE, Professor of Zoology from 1946-78 at the University of SouthamptonUniversity of SouthamptonThe University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
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, Labour MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch from 1983–2005 - Sir Robert Taylor CBE, Chairman of Thomas TillingThomas TillingThomas Tilling Ltd, later known with its subsidiary companies as the Tilling Group, was one of the two huge groups which controlled almost all the major bus operators in the United Kingdom between the wars and until nationalisation in 1948....
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Petroleum from 1959–67 - Derek Thomas CBE, Chief Executive of Surrey County Council from 1988–95
- Prof Andrew Williams, D.Phil MA MRSC (1937–2007) - University of Kent