Marlborough Grammar School, Marlborough
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Founded in 1550 this was housed in the old Hospital of St. John in the Marsh, now The Parade. In 1578 the old Hospital was pulled down and a new school built with schoolroom, dormitories and a master's house. The school was governed by the mayor and burgesses and taught classics. In the early 17th century fee paying pupils were admitted and from 1686 scholarships for boys at the school were available at Oxford and Cambridge colleges. In the late 18th century the school was both prosperous and flourishing and in 1791 a new school was built on the same site.
In the mid 19th century there was a proposal to amalgamate with the newly founded Marlborough College but this was rejected by the Grammar School. The school closed between 1876 and 1879 while the Charity Commissioners considered Marlborough's demand for a commercial school. In 1878 powers were transferred to a body of governors and up to 10% free places were allowed when the school re-opened. The new curriculum was both classical and modern but this dual purpose approach failed as local people would have preferred a technical school. Most of the school premises were let to the technical education committee for its classes. The Grammar School shrank to just six boys and closed when the headmaster resigned in 1899. The old building was demolished in 1904 and only the old covered playground remained.
In the mid 19th century there was a proposal to amalgamate with the newly founded Marlborough College but this was rejected by the Grammar School. The school closed between 1876 and 1879 while the Charity Commissioners considered Marlborough's demand for a commercial school. In 1878 powers were transferred to a body of governors and up to 10% free places were allowed when the school re-opened. The new curriculum was both classical and modern but this dual purpose approach failed as local people would have preferred a technical school. Most of the school premises were let to the technical education committee for its classes. The Grammar School shrank to just six boys and closed when the headmaster resigned in 1899. The old building was demolished in 1904 and only the old covered playground remained.
The foundation stone of the new school, on the same site, was laid on 1st August 1904; a new head, the first layman to hold the post, appointed on 5th May 1905, and the school opened by Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice on 6th October 1905. The new school was co-educational with accommodation for 80 pupils. There were difficulties at first after the six years closure but the school began to expand and there were 300 pupils by 1938. Space was limited and a new site was bought in 1932 but war and restrictions prevented the erection of the building agreed in 1935. In 1947 the increase in pupils from rural areas led to the establishment of a co-educational boarding house at Wye House while in 1958 the site bought in 1932 was extended to 15 acres.
The school was rehoused in new buildings on this site, to the south of the town, in 1962 after 400 years on the original site. The buildings in The Parade became St. Peter's Junior School. In 1975 the Grammar School amalgamated with Marlborough Secondary Modern School to form St. John's Comprehensive School on two sites and the Grammar School buildings were renamed the Stedman Building after former headmaster and writer, Alfred Stedman.
The school was rehoused in new buildings on this site, to the south of the town, in 1962 after 400 years on the original site. The buildings in The Parade became St. Peter's Junior School. In 1975 the Grammar School amalgamated with Marlborough Secondary Modern School to form St. John's Comprehensive School on two sites and the Grammar School buildings were renamed the Stedman Building after former headmaster and writer, Alfred Stedman.