SCHOOLS 



ALTON, ODIHAM, GODSHILL SCHOOLS 



Next to Winchester College, whose history we have now related, 

 the oldest school in Hampshire of which any record remains was that of 

 Alton. There the Chantry Commissioners of 1548 reported 1 'a Stipen- 

 dary Priest, founded by one John Chawnflower, to have continuance for 

 ever, to the intent to assist ministration in the church of Alton and to 

 teache children grammer.' The lands belonging to this priest were 

 worth i i is. ^d. a year gross, and after some outgoings and the 

 founder's obit, which cost us. 8</., jio is. ^d. clear. But it does not 

 seem that the schoolmaster took the whole salary, as it is said that he had 

 ' of the said landes for his salary yerely payd by the wardens of the same 

 town 6 i 3.1-. 4</.,' though what was done with the rest is not stated. 

 The priest at the time of the dissolution in 1548 was named Gregory 

 Bacon. The founder of this chantry school, called 'Champflower's Chaun- 

 trie ' in the patent of foundation in 1472," was probably the son of the 

 'John Champflour, squyer,' who in the year 1405 received 3 a retain- 

 ing fee of 2os. a year as counsel for Winchester College in the ' Common 

 Bench,' i.e. Court of Common Pleas. But unfortunately we know no 

 more of this school, whether it was continued by order of the Chantry 

 Commissioners or simply perished when its endowment was confiscated 

 to the Crown. The existing Alton Grammar School, founded by Eggar 

 in 1638, its feoffee's incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1642, appears 

 to be a new foundation. 



The same is true of the two other grammar schools mentioned by 

 the Chantry Commissioners. 4 At Odiham (Odiam) there was a stipen- 

 diary priest founded by public subscription ' of the benevolence of the 

 inhabitantes,' ' to be assisting and aiding to suche ministracion as is 

 required to be emonges the people by the word of Godd, and to the 

 intent to teache children gramer.' He had lands to the value of 7, 

 the clear ' remanet ' of which 6 1 3^. %d. ' is yerely paid to Hugh 

 Laner, whose age is '40 yeres, for his salary, who hath none other 

 lyving.' A memorandum adds that there was a chapel of ease in North- 

 warnborough (about half a mile away), ' which is emploid in time of 

 the plage for ministration and for a place to teach children in.' There 

 does not seem to be any traceable connection between this school and 

 the present Odiham Grammar School founded by Robert May in 1 694 

 with an endowment of about 100 a year. 



At Godshill in the Isle of Wight" there was a chantry founded 

 by Sir John Ligh, knight, which had lands worth 11 2s. \d. net. 

 * The incumbent thereof is one John Griffithe, Master of Arte, of the 

 age of 40 yeres, and hath besides 6 pension out of Hales monasterie 

 during lief, who teachethe there grammar to many yong children.' But 



1 English Schools at the Reformation, p. 90, from Chant. Cert. 54 No. 12. 



4 Pat. 12 Edw. IV. The Privy Seal for the patent was dated 25 February ; the patent 20 

 October. Licence in mortmain up to ^10 a year. 

 3 Bursars' Roll. 



EngKsh Schools at the Reformation, p. 89. Ibid. p. 91. 



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