Durham School
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−Durham School is an independent British day and boarding school for girls and boys (age 3-18) in Durham. It was founded by at least 1414 (the foundation date accepted by the Clarendon Commission into public schools in 1861), and refounded by Henry VIII of England during the Protestant Reformationin 1541. The school may have origins in the Priory at Lindisfarne, being moved to Durham City to escape marauding Viking invaders around the time that St. Cuthbert's body was brought to what is now the site of Durham Cathedral. The headmaster is Neil G Kern M.A, M.Sc.
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[edit] History
From: The city of Durham - Introduction (3 of 3). William Page 1928 [1]
"There was some zeal for education in Durham during the 18th century. Durham School, rebuilt in 1661, on the Palace Green, soon became, instead of a local grammar school, a north-country public school of repute and wide influence. We can trace from the Restoration onwards not only the familiar city names such as Salvin, Wilkinson, Hutchinson, Blakiston, Fawcett, Greenwell, Tempest, but representatives of the historic families of Northumberland and Durham, e.g., Hilton, Vavasour, Burdon, Grey, Shafto, Blackett, Forster, Heron, Lambton, Bowes, Calverley, Cole. One of the chief distinctions of the school is the succession of local historians and antiquaries who drew their inspiration from the venerable association of the old school on the Green. Most famous of these is James Mickleton (1638–93), without whom no history of mediaeval or 17th-century Durham would be possible. (fn. 144) Local history owes very much to Elias Smith, a notable head master (1640–66) who did his best to preserve the cathedral library through the Protectorate troubles, and to Thomas Rudd, head master (1691–9 and 1709–11), who indexed the Cathedral manuscripts. Later than these comes Thomas Randall (head master 1761–8), who made a large collection of manuscript material for local history."
[edit] House System
It is split into five different houses:
- Poole House (for boarders and day boys)
- School House (for day boys)
- The Caffinites (for day boys)
- Pimlico House (for boarders and day girls)
- MacLeod House (for day girls)
At various times in the school's history there has also been Langley house, named after the school's founder, Cardinal Langley. This was initially sited in what is now the Grove, which contains the school's administration and staff-room, but after this was closed, it was re-opened several years later in the old Sanitorium as a day house. In 1998, this house closed its doors for pupils for the last time and the building was converted into a classroom block. Another former house was Ferens House, that was specifically for lower-school boys in years 7 and 8. This house was removed in 2005 and replaced with pupils being allocated to one of the 5 main houses.
[edit] Co-Curriculum
Durham School is the fourth or fifth oldest football club of any kind in the world and has produced many international rugby union players and also British Lions. Durham School Football Club was founded in 1850. They are regularly one of the best school rugby union sides in the UK, reaching the Daily Mail Cup Semi Final on 5 occasions in the last 10 years and being runners up in 2001 and 2006. This is despite the school's size- having only 250 boys. Newcastle Falcons (originally Gosforth) rugby union club were founded as the old boys side and played in the school's colours until recently (green and white hoops). Durham School has hosted many England schoolboy rugby players, such as Lee Best (currently Worcester), Michael Stephenson (currently Bath), Hall Charlton (currently Newcastle Falcons), Geoff Parling (currently Newcastle Falcons). Younger boys coming through the ranks include Michael Young (England under 18's) and Robert Bell (also England under 18's) The school has also produced a number of first class cricketers in recent years as well as internationals in other sports. The school's Boat Club , founded in 1847, is a co founder of Durham Regatta, held in June each year. The boat club has produced many international athletes across the years, representing Great Britain at olympic, world, university and junior level. The latest being England representation at the home international regatta in 2006. DSBC has produced many fine crews over the years, some of which won multiple major events in the region in their day.
[edit] Notable alumni: "Old Dunelmians"
Alumni are known as Old Dunelmians. They include:
- King John Balliol, King of Scotland, attended Durham School before its official formation in 1414
- Granville Sharp, initiated the movement for the abolition of slavery in the 18th Century, founder of Sierra Leone as a free land for returned slaves.
- Viscount Henry Hardinge, fought with The Duke of Wellington who he later succeeded as Commander in Chief of the British army
- Thomas Knaggs, 17th century preacher
- William Noel Hodgson, WWI poet
- Ernest Bennett, right-wing politician
- Sir William Fox , Three times Prime Minister of New Zealand
- Geoffrey Pattie, politician
- Canon William Greenwell, archaeologist and librarian
- Christopher Smart, 18th century poet
- Ian Hay, a teacher at Durham School - humourist and author
- Francis and Alexander Crombie, introduced the sport of rugby to Scotland from Durham School
- Michael Scot, aka Scotus or Scott also Michael the wizard, 13th century mathematician, alchemist, scientist, linguist, philosopher and the only Old Dunelmian to appear in Danté's Inferno.
- Anthony Salvin, 19th century architect who restored or extended: Windsor Castle, Alnick Castle, Warwick castle, Rockingham Castle and the Tower of London
- Sir Peter Vardy, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist.
- Dominic Cummings Conservative party spin doctor
- Mike Weston, Captain of British Lions and Manager of England Rugby in the first World Cup 1987, and his sons Philip and Robin, both county cricketers
- Sir John Grant McKenzie Laws, The Right Honourable Lord Justice
- Sir Anthony Alfred Bowlby, Surgeon General
- Alexander Armstrong, Actor and Comedian
