The school history, along with a history of the site is available in the 160-page book 'The King's School Worcester and a history of its site' at a price of £8.

A History of the King's School, Worcester

The King's site

The King's School, Worcester, stands on the city's oldest site beside the River Severn near the ford, a crossing of the river until the building of the Diglis Lock in 1840. The area occupied in the Bronze Age, later by the Romans and chosen for the capital of region of the Hwicce, a people occupying the tributary Anglo-Saxon kingdom under the kings of Mercia. In AD 680, it became the centre of the new see of Worcester, founded by monks from St Hilda's Abbey at Whitby. A Norman castle later replaced a military stronghold of Alfred's reign, described on the plaque of the 1930s in the school gardens, and though this had been almost completely destroyed by the seventeenth century, the site was again fortified to form an important part of the city's defences during the Civil War, culminating in the Battle of Worcester in 1651, the latter part of which was fought round the Green and the gardens. The Norman 'Motte' was still standing to its full height until 1826. From the castle's inception as a royal construction, the county gaol was on the present senior playground, in 2010 renamed Castle Court.

The origins of King's

It seems that there has been a school, or schools, here since the late seventh century. Monastic schooling was supplied to novices, the monks in training, and possibly to laymen's sons. By the end of the 10th century, the monastery was a Benedictine community under Bishop Oswald and in the 12th century, Bishop Wulstan. Throughout the middle ages, pilgrims visited their shrines in the monastic church/cathedral. The saints' names are remembered in two day houses of the 1980s, the remainder remembering past headmasters.

However, the origins of King's lie more directly in the almonry, built in about 1320 next to St Mary's Gate (renamed Edgar Tower in the 19th century) on the site now occupied by 15, College Green/The Guesten. The first clear indication of the Almonry School was in 1341, when the Chaplain began to receive annual payments of £1, possibly for doubling as a schoolmaster. In 1397, the first mention was made of a schoolmaster's name, that of John Ekynton, who received a cloth tunic 'in return for teaching the existing poor boys in the Almonry'. In 1498, Hugh Cratford became the Magister Scholarum, and three years later it was decided he was also to teach the novices, who were often children. In 1504, the Bishop, or rather the Archdeacon acting on behalf of the Bishop, ordered that Cratford should become Headmaster of the Bishop's School (later The Royal Grammar School), and that no-one else should try 'to teach grammar learning publicly in our said city of Worcester ... on pain of excommunication'.

This, however, did not kill off the Almonry School because the Cathedral and its precincts were not within the city of Worcester; the two areas remained separate until 1835. A scribbled note at the side of a page in Valor Ecclesiasticus, Thomas Cromwell's mighty survey of the monasteries in England and Wales for Henry VIII, states that the Almonry School was set up by the ordinance of St. Oswald and St. Wulstan. This suggests that the Almonry School was founded in the 10th century (rather than the 14th Century), and that St. Wulstan taught not only Benedictine novices, but also Almonry scholars. It's a nice thought.

Dissolution of the Monastery and Re-foundation as the King's School

On 16th January 1540, the Benedictine Monastery at Worcester was dissolved by Henry VIII. Prior Holbeche and his 33 monks were officially dismissed and the monastery closed. It seems a sorry tale of conspiracy and collusion. However, because the Bishop of Worcester needed to retain the staffing and finances of his Cathedral, a charter (now in the Library of Worcester Cathedral) was drawn up whereby the lands taken from the Priory were reallocated to the new Dean and Chapter. Holbeche became the first Dean, and five of the ex-monks became Canons, including the Almoner, Hospitaller, Cellarer and Infirmarian, all of whom retained their houses on College Green, a clear case of a buy-off.

In Worcester, as elsewhere, the monastery as a place of learning was replaced, as enshrined in the statutes of 1542, by a Cathedral College with a King's School as part of it, similarly to seven other King's Schools around the same time. Was it a passing fit of Henry's conscience or a means of guaranteeing loyalty amongst an educated elite? Under the Dean and Chapter of Major Canons, there was a Choir of Minor Canons and Lay Clerks, with 10 Choristers. Beside them were 40 boys as King's Scholars in a separate school, which was to continue the work of the Almonry School and feed the University of Oxford. By this means, the school at Worcester was re-founded.

Henry's school

On 7th December, 1541, King Henry VIII himself appointed the first Headmaster by writing to Sir Richard Rich, Chancellor of the Augmentations of the Revenues of the Crown, appointing the bringer, John Pether, 'Schoolmaster of our Collegiate Church of Worcester'. (The letter is now in the National Archive). Statutes of 1542 empowered the Dean and Chapter of Worcester to make all subsequent appointments; and the school continued to be governed by the Dean and Chapter until the 1960s when the statutes were revised. Richard Allen was chosen to be the first Usher which became that held by the Second Master with the New Scheme of 1884. However, with the first woman appointed to the post in 2007, that of Deputy Head, the suggestion of 'Usherette' never materialised.

Henry VIII's scholars

The Scholars had to be between nine and fifteen years old, though ex-choristers were granted an extra year in lieu of the time they had spent being taught music. They also had to be 'poor and destitute of the help of friends', already literate (an unusual requirement at that time), 'of native genius', and with an 'inborn aptitude for learning'. The first scholars included boys from the Almonry School. However, 'poor' was interpreted rather loosely by the Dean and Chapter; amongst the first scholars are the surnames of well-off county gentry; 'destitute of the help of friends' seems to have indicated that they would be unable to get to university without the School's help (the same phrase was used by the founders of Eton and Winchester), because their families could not afford private tutors. Indeed, two years after they began, in 1543, twelve went on to continue their education at university. The curriculum was exclusively Latin, with a little Greek.

Every aspect of the school was circumscribed by the statutes; cloth was designated for the staff and boys, the tables plans for eating in the 'common hall', payments and prayers were to be said for Henry's soul in perpetuity. The school day began at six o'clock; in the winter months the boys needed a candle and were beaten if they did not speak Latin all day and were beaten if they did not report a friend who spoke in English.

We still have King's and Queen's Scholars, the latter were started in 1991 at the 450th anniversary of the re-foundation, deemed as the most academically gifted. They are still enrolled in Latin by the Dean, process into the Cathedral and attend an annual College roll call.

College Hall

In the 1560s, the King's Scholars moved to College Hall, the monastic refectory of the twelfth century, re-modelled in the fourteenth. Here the King's School has stayed with only three short breaks: from 1636 to 1642, when the Carnary Chapel was used; from 1650 to 1651, when the School, like the Cathedral, was closed during the Civil War; and for a year during the Second World War, when the School was evacuated to North Wales. Initially, the College was supposed to eat together in the refectory, but as soon as possible the adults moved out to their houses round the Green and the College Hall became the school room for centuries, with as many as four classes happening at the same time. Latterly, its role has been as an assembly hall, theatre and exhibition space for the school, as well as many external functions.

Ups and downs

Inevitably over the centuries, there were highs and lows in the little school based in College Hall. A pinnacle of success was under the headship of Henry Bright (1589 – 1627) producing some impressive figures including Edward Winslow, the Pilgrim Father, Sir John Vaughan, MP & High Court Judge, who was particularly revered for his impartiality over land suits, following the Great Fire of London in 1666, and Samuel Butler, a popular author of the time. The most celebrated OV at the end of the 17th century may well have been John, Lord Somers (shown), Lord High Chancellor under William & Mary.

As elsewhere, the early19th century was a low period for academic achievement, with some bullying or inept headmasters, falling numbers and poor behaviour as chronicled in the novels of Mrs. Henry Wood, who depicted the disreputable escapades of the boys of the College School, which her five brothers had attended in the 1830s.

W.E.Bolland and the New Scheme 1884

Very slowly, however, conditions and syllabus began to improve, culminating in the reforms of the Rev.W.E. Bolland (1879 – 1896). Based on the improved numbers achieved by Maurice Day (1859 - 79), Bolland was able to break the hold of the Dean and Chapter over the appointments and curriculum of the Worcester Cathedral Grammar School and thereby the modern King's began to emerge, following the reforms at Rugby by Dr Arnold. A separate choir school was established. The Old Vigornian Club was founded, the school magazine, the Vigornian, had its first publication and College Hall was restored, which with the later addition of gas lighting must have revolutionised learning and teaching in the old building. School House was built in 1888 to accommodate more boarders, and the Headmaster with his family, and the school's first science labs were constructed (the present Biology block.) Ultimately and more seriously, Bolland prevented the amalgamation of King's with the Royal Grammar School.

Twentieth Century war and peace

Rev.W.H. Chappel (Headmaster 1896 – 1819) changed the school's name to Worcester Cathedral King's School to prevent confusion with the RGS. Castle and the Hostel on College Green were both acquired as boarding houses in 1902 and 1903 respectively. The OTC was formed in 1909 with most of the school participating. There was therefore inevitably a high loss in the Great War with 82 OVs including two masters, from a school of about a hundred at any one time. 'Daddy' Chappel wrote obituaries for every one of the causalities in the Vigornian. Hope Bagenal, a good friend of Rev. Cuthbert Creighton (Headmaster 1919 – 1936 & then 1939 – 1942) designed their memorial board in College Hall. He would also design the School Gardens, a far-sighted and remarkable gift from Creighton to the school in memory of his wife. The Headmaster's garden is now the junior playground. The Chappel Memorial Reading Room and the first of the classroom blocks were built, with Creighton contributing considerable sums of money.

The Depression added to the school's financial difficulties; the prep school Tredennyke established under David Creighton had to be sold. Only too soon, the Second World War followed, which saw Hope Bagenal designing a second memorial board in College Hall of 55 names, including that of his youngest son, Philip, who was killed in New Guinea. The disruption caused by the Government enforced evacuation, organised by L.W. Wilding (Headmaster 1936 – 1939) to Criccieth, in North Wales, for a year, and his resignation resulted in much-reduced numbers.

The revival of King's

Rebuilding the school's academic reputation and numbers was achieved by Ronald Kittermaster (Headmaster 1942 – 1959) in gaining popular status under the Direct Grant system and the 11-plus, although there was little cash to spend on improving buildings and resources, although a government grant made possible the building of the Winslow Building, containing Physics and Chemistry labs, in 1958. The staff, with memorable individuals such as Dan McTurk and Alex Natan, organised trips to London and parts of Europe.

David Annett (Headmaster 1959 – 1979) saw in a new phase in the School's long history in 1971 when girls were first admitted into the sixth form and in 1974 the ending of the Direct Grant scheme in place since 1919. The survival of King's was to be as an independent boarding and day school, with almost half as boarders. By 1977, the day & boarding girls were established in 15, College Green as College House, with the headmaster's office and the staff Common Room on the ground floor. The presence of the female influence in the classroom and staff room would slowly change the 'boys' grammar' atmosphere of the school with the numbers of girls rising to 75 before Eliot House for day girls with some 25 was established in No 12, College Green, with additional classrooms. The establishment of a Development Committee and the biennial School Fete which became a major attraction in Worcester on the Whit bank holiday, initiated, a series of building projects with the Boathouse on the river, the Sports Hall, the New Block for maths and day houses, the swimming pool, the Wolfson Building for art and the Dining Hall which transformed the school's facilities.

J.M. Moore and coeducation

John Moore (headmaster 1983 – 1998), following the brief headship of Andrew Milne (headmaster 1979 – 1983) gave King's a prominent position amongst the independent sector with his chairmanship of the Academic Policy Committee of the Headmasters' Conference and in Worcester as a city magistrate. In 1989, the momentous decision was taken to move to full coeducation and in 1991 the first junior girls were admitted to the Junior School and the Fourth Forms and finally achieved by 1996, overseen by Patricia Stevens (Senior Mistress) with the partnership of the Headmaster with Tim Hickson as Second Master in overall command. Roofing and improving the swimming and the sports hall provision was important and the building of the John Moore Theatre boosted the teaching of drama, as well as becoming a venue for outside productions.

T.H. Keyes and changes

A new bursar, Galen Bartholomew (1995) and headmaster, Tim Keyes (1998), pictured here, has proved to be a partnership of new brooms in many ways. Assisted by the end of boarding in 1999 and the support of the Governors, led by the dedicated and very long-serving Donald Howell (School, 53 – 61  Governor, Chairman of the Governors), an extensive restoration and re-organisation of the boarding houses began.

In 1999, with the Dean and Chapter's ending of the school's occupation of 15, College Green, the Hostel became the administrative centre of the school with the headmaster's and bursar's staff, facilities for the Common Room, the FDO and Reprographics.

Choir House was reopened by Dr. Peter Selby in March 2001 to accommodate Bright, and Chappel day houses and classrooms for Classics and English. The reconstruction won a City of Worcester architectural prize, in part for the glass extension of the main staircase which gives views of College Green and Fort Royal.

Castle House was completely renovated as the Music Centre, with space for Choir day house. A celebratory concert with Stephen Cleobury (OV) presiding was held to mark the opening in July 2003.

Meantime, the 1961 'New' Block was rescued and revamped as the Annett Building, opened in September 2001 by David Annett. It provides classrooms for Maths, form rooms for the Lower 4th with a Fitness Suite and Dance studio in the basement. The science labs are all upgraded, the play ground was planted with trees and tidied up with the disappearance of the fives courts in 2003.

Most importantly, the Library has taken centre stage with its move from Edgar Tower to School House's ground floor with the addition of a Long Gallery on its eastern side. Above are classrooms with space for School, Wulstan and Creighton day houses. Roger McGough opened the Library in October 2006. The Chappel Memorial Room has became a dance studio. The Art School was officially opened in February 2008. It was constructed out of the Royal Worcester Porcelain Canteen, purchased in the early 90s, and extended to the rear. Most of the new building and renovations have been designed by John Christophers of Associated Architects.

The King's Foundation consisting of the senior school, King's Worcester, King's Hawford in Claines (previously Hawford Lodge School and purchased as a second prep school with King's St Alban's) was then set up. Both Hawford and St. Alban's have pre-preps, the latest being the Howell Building, built on the site of the Mill Street pub, The Alma, and opened in 2010 by Donald Howell, the year of his resignation as chair of the Governors. The construction continues with the complete re-building of the boathouse, started in November 2010 and a proposed drama/sport centre the "SPACE" (above) on the site of the Potter's Wheel in Severn Street.

C.F.R. ©2011