Over 50 members and friends of Crediton Area History & Museum Society attended a talk by founder member Robin Langhorne at
the Boniface Centre to hear a talk on the 19th century records of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar school. Founded in the reign of King Edward in 1547, somehow the school was named after Queen Elizabeth who did not ascend to the throne until 1558! Until 1860 the school was held in the lady chapel at the parish church and it was not possible to accommodate more than 18 children at any one time.
The industrial revolution led to a great demand for education. A population of 9 million in 1800 rose to 35 million in 1900 and no longer was it only the landed gentry who expected to have their children educated, so too did wealthy new industrialists and entrepreneurs.
In the 1840s many new public schools were founded by the church – pupils were supposed to be sons of Christian gentlemen.
Rev. John Manley was the Head of QE when it was decided the school should be enlarged. He was Rector of Hittisleigh. Mr Langhorne read out a report from the Solicitor General: "First as to site – the subscribers should reside in the West Town and parishes near the West". Even when Robin started teaching at the school in the 1960s some of the East boys wouldn't talk to the West boys! The report went on to say that teachers should be better than those at charity schools, have had a more expensive education and should have bigger houses! This was signed by 240 inhabitants of the town.
Money had to be found to build the new school. Pottles Farm at Exminster belonged to Crediton Church Governors and it was
decided to sell it and in 1855 Townsington or Pottles was sold for £4000 - enough to build the new school. Consequently, two boys from Exminster could come as boarders. Building was completed in 1861.
Robin was also able to quote from a fascinating record kept by heads at the time in which they recorded attendance and
significant events. One of these was the marriage of the vicar’s daughter, which necessitated a day off! Robin is researching
some of the names recorded of pupils, so more anon!
One entry records the absence of the head’s son who was ill and a few days later another sad entry says ‘Today I buried my boy’.
By 1875 there were about 70 boys at the school, including about 20 boarders. Fees were £4 a year! The Girls School started in
1910.
As usual, Robin delivered his talk in a relaxed and humorous style, to the obvious delight of his audience. His love for the school at which he taught for several decades was very evident.