SCHOOLS 



THERE is, perhaps, no county in England which in ancient or 

 modern times can boast a better supply of institutions for the 

 advancement of secondary education than Gloucestershire. The 

 ancient prosperity of the county, derived at first largely from the 

 two great ports of Gloucester and Bristol, reinforced by the widespread 

 development of its cloth-trade in the later fourteenth and succeeding 

 centuries, studded it with great churches and their inseparable companions, 

 flourishing grammar schools. The grammar schools of Gloucester and Bristol 

 are, as will be seen, of immemorial antiquity, specific mention of them, not 

 as new creations, but as previously existing institutions, being made in the 

 twelfth century, a propos, as we should say, of new schemes for their govern- 

 ment ; in both cases involving a transfer of power from the secular to the 

 regular clergy. In both cities the Reformation movement was marked by 

 the introduction of new schools, rivals to the old schools, with possibly the 

 difference that the new schools were endowed and were free schools, instead 

 of being fee-paying schools. The new school at Gloucester was the Crypt 

 Grammar School ; and at Bristol, the Cathedral Grammar School. In neither 

 case, oddly enough, did the new school prove an effective rival to the old 

 school, until in quite recent times at Gloucester, through the apathy or error 

 of the dean and chapter, the Crypt School took the front rank. 



Both cities now enjoy an ample if not, indeed, an excessive supply 

 of institutions for higher education ; for it is difficult to see how, with a popula- 

 tion of rather under than over 50,000, Gloucester can support in real efficiency 

 the Crypt Grammar School, the Cathedral Grammar School, and Sir Thomas 

 Rich's School ; or Bristol, with about 330,000, can maintain the University 

 College, Clifton College, the Grammar School, the Cathedral Grammar 

 School, Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Colston's Hospital, the Merchant 

 Venturers' Technical College, and three so-called Higher Grade Schools ; 

 and for girls, the Clifton High School, the Redland High School, Colston's 

 Girls' Day School, the Red Maids' School, and the three Higher Grade 

 Schools ; to say nothing of innumerable private schools, good, bad, and 

 indifferent. 



Outside the cities we find Cirencester Grammar School mentioned in 

 the middle of the thirteenth century as an existing institution ; Wotton 

 under Edge Grammar School, founded in 1384; Newland, now Coleford, 

 Grammar School in 1445 ; Stow on the Wold in 1476 ; Chipping Campden 

 Grammar School in 1487 ; Winchcombe Grammar School in 1521 ; Chel- 

 tenham Grammar School, at some unknown date before 1548. Westbury 

 Collegiate Church, of very high antiquity, certainly maintained a grammar 

 school, as it sent scholars to Oriel College, Oxford, on John Carpenter's 

 foundation, and boarded, lodged, and clothed 1 2 choristers, while John Golde, 

 2 3'3 40 



