158
NOTES AND QUERIES. ;[ 12 s. v. JUNE, 1919.
BLUECOAT SCHOOLS (12 S. v. 126). The
Bluecoat School, Birmingham, was founded
in 1722, by public subscriptions and dona-
tions, and was stimulated by the erection of
St. Philip's Church, now the Pro-Cathedral.
The burial-ground attached to this church is
of considerable extent, and a strip of land
from it was granted at a nominal rent by the
church authorities, on the ground that
" profaneness and debauchery were greatly
owing to gross ignorance of the Christian
religion, especially among the poorer sort."
Liberal contributions were received from
many of the old Birmingham families, and
a brick building was opened in 1724 accom-
modating 22 boys and 10 girls. As early as
K-90 a Birmingham mercer of the name of
^'entham had provided for the education of
about 20 boys, and his trust was amalga-
mated with the Bluecoat School, the boys
being, however, clad in green for distinction.
Another benefaction provided for the educa-
tion, of a number of Welsh children, there
being many Welsh families in the neigh-
bourhood, mostly poor, and the poorer
because they had no assistance from the
rates.
The school has been greatly enlarged on two occasions, and is now a large stone- fronted edifice, with no pretension to architectural ornament, but so simple and so good in its proportions as to be by no means unpleasing, especially as it faces the large and well-planted churchyard. The only decoration consists of two figures of a Bluecoat boy and girl by Edward Grubb. Of these William Huttor says : " They are executed with a degree of excellence that a Roman statuary would not have blushed to own." Of Hutton's knowledge of Roman statuary art we may entertain grave doubts, but the figures are certainly simple and pleasing. Of these the legend has long been told to Birmingham children that when they hear the church bells strike midnight they come down and disport themselves in the churchyard. The legend is of course per- fectly truthful, provided that the proper emphasis be placed on the "when."
The Birmingham Bluecoat School has an uneventful but most honourable history. It has always been liberally supported and excellently managed, and has done incal- culable good in its existence of nearly two centuries. Many who have found there their only chance of education have attained wealth and honour. One grateful pupil gave a donation of 1,OOOL when he became a successful man. The school has also con- stantly grown, and now educates about
200 boys and 100 girls. The costume of the
time of George I. is still continued, and the-
boys, as they are led by their masters
through the streets, form a quaint and
pleasant spectacle.
The present school, large as it is, is over- crowded, and its removal to Harborne would already have been effected, but for the hindrance caused by the war. In suburban quarters the children will have purer air and adequate playgrounds, though they can scarcely be healthier than they are in their present close quarters.
HOWAKD S. PEARSON.
The Bluecoat School in Wolverhampton was founded in 1696, and, so far as I am aware, is still in existence. When I resided in Wolverhampton the number of scholars was about 80, of whom 22 were boarders.
In addition to these the boys in the- Wolverhampton Orphanage, some 150 in number, wore the Bluecoat dress. The Orphanage was founded in 1850.
In the town of Leicester there used to be,, and doubtless still is, the Greencoat School. (Alderman Newton's).
JAS. M. J. FLETCHER.
The Vicarage, Wimborne Minster.
The following appears to give the required information. There is no date on my copy:
The Parent's | School And College Guide,] or, I Liber Scholasticus : | Being an Account or { All The Fellowships, Scholarships, And | Exhibitions, | At The | Universities of Oxford, Cambridge,. Durham and Dublin: | By Whom Founded, I And! Whether Open Or Restricted To Particular | Places And Persons : | Also, Of Such | Colleges, Public- Schools, Endowed Grammar Schools, | Chartered Companies Of The City Of London, | Corporate Bodies, Trustees &c. | As Have University Ad- vantages Attached To Them, | Or In Their Patron- age ; | With The | Ecclesiastical Patronage Of The Universities, Colleges, | Companies, Corporate Bodies, &c. | With Appropriate Indexes And References I Second Edition, Much Enlarged. | London : | Whittaker And Co. Ave Maria Lane. W. CURZON YEO.
10 Beaumont Avenue, Richmond, Surrey.
There is a Bluecoat School in York. It was founded in 1705, and is still carried on in vigorous condition. A Grey Coat School for girls was established almost contem- poraneously, and that also continues its good work. But a day ago these institu- tions celebrated their annual festival, and, according to a time-honoured custom,, assembled at the Mansion House, where the- Lady Mayoress made each child glad by the-- gift of sixpence and an orange.
ST. S WITHIN.
