Malcolm Bull's Calderdale Companion : Foldout

The Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth - aka Heath School and Heath Grammar School – was founded in 1600 by Dr John Favour under a Queen's Charter obtained by Henry Farrar of Ewood in 1585, and was built on land donated by Farrar and his brothers, and with money raised by public subscription and from various benefactors, including the Savile family – Edward and Sir George – and Gilbert, the 7th Earl of Shrewsbury.

The foundation stone was laid on 8th June 1598. The Akroyd family worked on the building. The building cost £120 and the Akroyds were paid a further £20 for building it so well, and a further £20 for building it so quickly.

Originally, 41 boys attended the school, and the scholars were only allowed to speak Latin whilst in school.

The Leeds Intelligencer [Tuesday 20th January 1784] - when Rev Gough Willis Kempson was Head Master – advertised

The Free School at Halifax was opened on the Twelfth of January 1784 under the direction of a Head Master and Aſſiſtants.

Instruction in English Grammar, the reading of the English classics, Writing, Arithmetic and Modern History: 4 guineas p.a.
Instruction in the Greek and Latin languages: 4 guineas p.a.
Instruction in both above languages together: 6 guineas p.a.
Instruction in Geography, Geometry and Algebra: 4 guineas p.a.

Or any person paying Ten Guineas a Year will receive Instructions in any of the above Articles which may be adjudged Best for him. Enquiries by letter to Mr Bates the English Aſſiſtant, Free School Lane, Halifax, will receive an immediate answer.
This advertisement would have appeared in the Beginning of Last Year but the Headmaster was not willing to offer his services to the Public at large without being firſt able to appeal to the Experience of the Gentlemen of Halifax in particular, for the Succeſſ of his Plan, and an Account of his Character and Ability

In 1878, a new school was designed by John & Joseph Leeming. The new building opened in 1879 and accommodated 250 boys.

In 1883, when Rev Cox retired as headmaster, the School had only the headmaster, one assistant and 13 boys, and funds were so small that the School had to close.

It reopened in 1887, when funds had improved. Nathan Whitley was a strong advocate for the school's reopening after Easter 1887.

Extensions were added in 1939. There is work – three oak chairs, and a reading desk – by Harry Percy Jackson [1951].

The memorial gates, to commemorate old boys killed in action, were unveiled in June 1949.

The tradition of a half-day holiday per week (originally Thursday afternoon, but latterly Wednesday afternoon) with Saturday morning attendance, was continued until 1965.

The apple-and-pear window, constructed by the Akroyd family between 1598 and 1601, is the only remaining part of the old school. It has been suggested that the window was designed by Robert Smythson [1535-1614]

The mason who made the stone over the main entrance mistakenly carved the word grammer and later corrected it.

There were plans to sell the building for use as housing in order to raise funds for proposed changes to the civic buildings and the central library [2011]

According to the original charter, the qualifications of a Master was that he should be

In addition to the Headmaster, the School had an Usher – or Assistant Master or Second Master

The Usher had similar duties to the Headmaster, but received only half the salary

Please email me if you can add the names of any masters or teachers at the school