Monument record MDO1777 - Free Grammar School, Netherbury

The free Grammar School at Netherbury may have been founded in the latter half of the 15th century when, according to a Chancery bill of 1564, one Denys Churchill donated the farms of Broadenham and Paradise for the maintenance of a schoolmaster there. In a report of the Augmentation Office (Foundation of Schools) in 1548, it is stated that a Grammar School had been continuously maintained with the revenues of the late chantry of Netherbury, and that it should be continued.

In the reign of Charles II the church-wardens presented at a visitation that they had a school for teaching grammar, reading, writing and arithmetic, and in the 19th century a house and good school-room were said to have been erected near the church. <1-3>

Mr Warren pointed out the site of the school (at SY 46959935) which his grandfather had attended circa 1833. Although all buildings had been removed, some footings were visible at the place indicated, and adjoining them was a pointed archway leading through a garden wall.

According to Mr Warren, the school occupied a new site in about 1869-1870, and later combined and moved to Beaminster. <4>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 108-9 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> 1906, Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries 10, 2-3 (Serial). SDO18315.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1910, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, 112-114 (Serial). SDO21.

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 10-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4.1> Oral: Mr Warren, Highfield, Netherbury (Verbal communication). SDO19045.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 449961 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 14 2022 7:03PM