Bluecoat Schools
The Bluecoat schools (sometimes still known as Blewcoat Schools), the first of which was Christ's Hospital in London, were charity schools for the children from poor families. The name 'bluecoat' came fromt the uniforms the children wore.
There is a Wikipedia page which lists some of the main Bluecoat schools so I won't repeat all the infomration here but if there are Bluecoat schools not listed there, or you have other information or memories you would like to share here, please get in touch.
BARNSTAPLE BLUECOAT SCHOOL
The school, which opened in 1760, was originally housed over the North Gate. However, this was demolished in the 1840s and the school was moved in around 1842 (perhaps ealier - see below).
The clock that was on the Bluecoat School has been restored and is now at the end of the Pannier Market.
A painting of the orignal Bluecoat School can be found here (external site).
It seems that the boys' and girls' parts of the school had slightly different histories. While, in 1844, the boys' school had moved to North Walk, the girls' side was in Church Lane. By 1870, the two had united at North Walk. What directories of the time (listed below) also suggest, is that there is a question mark about when the new school at North Walk was built. It may have been as early as 1834.
Pigot & Co. Directory of Devonshire 1844: "BLUE COAT SCHOOL (boys), North walk - William Beck, master" "BLUE COAT SCHOOL (girls), Church lane - Mary May, mistress"
Morris and Co. Commercial Directory and Gazetteer 1870: "The BLUE COAT SCHOOLS, in the north walk, were rebuilt by subscription in 1834, and provide for the education and clothing of 50 boys and 30 girls." "May Mrs. Mary, Blue Coat schoolmistress, North walk" "Satterley Charles H., Bluecoat schoolmaster, North walk"
BLUECOAT SCHOOL, TIVERTON
The school was also known as 'Greenways'. The first master of the Blue Coat School was given £9 per annum for the rent of a house, which was also the location of the girls' school, founded in 1714. The school was moved to new premises in Frog Street (now called Castle Street) in 1842.
Pigot & Co. Directory of Devonshire 1844: "GREENWAY'S BLUE COAT SCHOOL, Frog street - John Quick, master; Elizabeth Sharland, mistress Hill Louisa, Bampton st"
An article about the school has been written: Giles, DD & Strong, PJ 1984. The Blue Coat School, Tiverton in Transactions of the Devonshire Association 116
BLUECOAT SCHOOL, EXETER
In the busy Princesshay shopping mall in Exeter, stands
"This statue of a blue boy stood in the courtyard of Saint John's Hospital School founded on this site as a Bluecoat School by the Chamber of Exteter AD 1656 in the dissolved Mediaeval Hospital of St John the Baptist. The School continued until 1931 in new buildings erected in 1859 which were destroyed by enemy action on May 4th 1942."
BLUECOAT SCHOOL, BIRMINGHAM A separate page on this site exists.
LOOKING FOR RECORDS?
Christ's Hospital, London Records are held by the London Metropolitan Archives. A leaflet about their Bluecoat records (pdf)
Bluecoat School, Brewer's Green, Caxton Street, Westminster Some records are held by London Metropolitan Archives
Blackheath Bluecoat School Some records are held by London Metropolitan Archives
Bluecoat School, Birmingham Records are held by the Library of Birmingham
Bluecoat School, Barnstaple. Some records are held by the North Devon Record Office
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