324 THORNTON. 



a stipulated salary of 52., a house, garden and 

 school room, kept in repair by the trustees. 



The school is open to all the children of the in- 

 habitants of Sinnington, and Thornton, " for the 

 schooling, instructing, and teaching of the children 

 of the said parishes (in grammar) gratis." They 

 are admitted when they can read the English Tes- 

 tament, and there is no prescribed time for their 

 continuance at the school. The Eton grammar 

 is used; and the system of education is similar to 

 that of other public schools. There are four exhi- 

 bitions of 10 per aim. each, for students from this 

 school, until they become graduates at either Ox- 

 ford, or Cambridge. The present master the Rev. 

 Michael Mackereth, has held that situation for the 

 lastS? years, and under his superintendance the 

 school has attained to a degree of celebrity which it 

 had never before reached ; but his advanced age 

 (SO,) and growing infirmities, have now induced 

 him to decline taking any active part. The Rev. 

 Jl. B. Scholefield, his assistant, takes pupils at 26 

 guineas per ann. ; for ihose under 12, and an addi- 

 tional guinea for every year above that age ; who 

 are instructed in the classics, mathematics, and 

 other branches of a liberal education. The present 

 number of scholars average about 50 viz. 12 boar- 

 ders 28 scholars on the foundation, and 6 or 

 day scholars from the neighbouring parishes. 



Jt was lately (1816) a matter of lit f gation in the 

 court of chancery,* whether the school at Thornton, 



* The funds of this charity though at present in a 

 flourishing state, have at various periods suffered heavy 



