Royal Grammar School Worcester

The Royal Grammar School Worcester (RGS Worcester) is a British independent Public School founded before 1291.

History

The School was originally founded as a secular monastic school in Worcester around 685 by Bishop Bosel. The first reference to the school appears in 1265 when the Bishop of Worcester Bishop, Walter de Cantelupe, sent four chaplains into the city to teach. Conclusive evidence appears in 1291 when an argument was settled by Bishop Godfrey Giffard regarding who owned the wax from the candles used at the feast of St Swithun. It was decided that the Scholars of the Worcester School owned the wax, and the Rector of St Nicholas Church had to rely on the generosity of the scholars in order to get candle wax. The headmaster is mentioned as Stephen of London.

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The next headmaster was appointed in 1312 as Hugh of Northampton. He was appointed personally by the Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor Walter Reynolds. The school continued to exist under the control of the city guilds through the centuries with various records of headmasters being appointed. One in particular was 'Sir Richard (Chaplain)', who was dismissed by the bishop of Worcester in 1422 for taking money from the scholars for his own use. He was replaced by Sir John Bredel. Sir Richard Pynnington was appointed in 1485 and is known to have given money to the Archbishop of Canterbury's fund.

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In 1504 an attempt was made at establishing a rival school in the city, but the Bishop of Worcester at the time, Sylvestre de Giglis, passed a law that stated any person who set up a school in the city or monastic precincts would be excommunicated. Thus all rivals ceased to exist, and the headmaster of that said school, Hugh Cratford, was created headmaster of the City School in 1510.

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Bishop Hugh Latimer wrote to Thomas Cromwell in 1535 asking for money to help with the City Walls, The Bridge and The School. After a petition by some notable citizens of Worcester to endow the school permanently, the school was given a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1561 and a governing body known as The Six Masters was set up, which remains as the governing body today. Amongst famous Six masters includes John Wall, Earl Beauchamp and Sir Anthony Lechemere.

Related Topics:
Thomas Cromwell - Six Masters - John Wall - Earl Beauchamp - Anthony Lechemere

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A second Royal Charter was granted in 1843 by Queen Victoria, and the tile of Royal was conferred in 1869 after the school moved to its present site in Worcester.

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Many of the current buildings were paid for by the great benefactor and collector Charles William Dyson Perrins, who was an Old Boy and a Six Master. Perrins Hall was named after his father James Dyson Perrins, owner of Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce, who went to the school. In the Twentieth and Twenty-first centuries the school has connections with Worcester Academy USA, with which the RGS is twinned.

Related Topics:
Lea and Perrins - Worcester Academy

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Main Quad of Royal Grammar School

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Perrins Hall (far left), Clock Block (centre), Perrins Science Building (right)

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