Saffron Walden Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Saffron Walden Free Grammar School (or Saffron Walden Grammar School) was a school in the Essex
town of Saffron Walden
, which for over four hundred years educated the boys of the town and surrounding villages in a manner designed to be after the model of Eton College
and Winchester
. It was notable for its longevity and for some of its illustrious alumni.
’s Lord Mayor Thomas Bradbury
and her brother, John Leche, was the Rector of Saffron Walden. The grammar school by its constitution was for benefit of the town and three villages in its vicinity. Johane (sometimes 'Jane') and her brother, along with the local abbot and monastery, arranged its endowment with local guilds. They erected a school house and school room and Dame Johane "granted a rent charge for the support of a priest and to teach the children grammar after the order and use of Winchester
and Eton
." In some histories, the school is deemed the successor of the 1423 establishment and thus has been described as having been refounded by Edward VI. The school bore the Tudor royal arms
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...
town of Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden is a medium-sized market town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. It is located north of Bishop's Stortford, south of Cambridge and approx north of London...
, which for over four hundred years educated the boys of the town and surrounding villages in a manner designed to be after the model of Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
. It was notable for its longevity and for some of its illustrious alumni.
History
The earliest schools in Walden dated from 1423 under the control of the neighbouring monastery. The Grammar School was founded by Dame Johane Bradbury in 1522. Dame Johane Bradbury was the wife of LondonLondon
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...
’s Lord Mayor Thomas Bradbury
Thomas Bradbury
-Life:Bradbury was born in Yorkshire, and was educated for the congregational ministry Attercliffe Academy; Oliver Heywood gave him books. He preached his first sermon on 14 June 1696, and went to reside as assistant and domestic tutor with Thomas Whitaker, minister of the independent congregation,...
and her brother, John Leche, was the Rector of Saffron Walden. The grammar school by its constitution was for benefit of the town and three villages in its vicinity. Johane (sometimes 'Jane') and her brother, along with the local abbot and monastery, arranged its endowment with local guilds. They erected a school house and school room and Dame Johane "granted a rent charge for the support of a priest and to teach the children grammar after the order and use of Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
." In some histories, the school is deemed the successor of the 1423 establishment and thus has been described as having been refounded by Edward VI. The school bore the Tudor royal arms
Buildings
The original building, designed for 60 pupils, flanked the churchyard wall. It was replaced in 1655 by new premises in Castle Street. After over two hundred years in these buildings, which in part still stand today, the school moved to new buildings in 1881 in Ashdon Road which remained the home of the school until the Second World War. During the war the 8th Air Force's 65th fighter wing (which was assigned the additional duty of Air Sea Rescue) had its fighter control center in the building. This was due to its proximity to Debden airfield. The buildings are now used by the Dame Johane Bradbury School, an establishment for small children but, rather aptly, taking the name of the person who first brought a formalised educational establishment to the town.Former masters
- William Dawson, later knighted, was the first master.
- Rev John Collins MA (of Trinity College, DublinTrinity College, DublinTrinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and Queens' College, CambridgeQueens' College, CambridgeQueens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
) was master in 1845
Notable former pupils
- Sir Thomas Smythe - learned and eminent statesman in the reign of Edward VI and Elizabeth I went to the school and then to Cambridge. In 1538 he was appointed public orator, and in 1549 he became Secretary of StateSecretary of StateSecretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
. - Gabriel HarveyGabriel HarveyGabriel Harvey was an English writer. Harvey was a notable scholar, though his reputation suffered from his quarrel with Thomas Nashe...
(c. 1545–1630) - writer and notable scholar of the 16th century. - Edward Mellish (1880–1962) - recipient of the Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
- Sir Henry Marking (March 11, 1920 - May 16, 2002) - Company lawyer and former British AirwaysBritish AirwaysBritish Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
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