Norwich High School for Boys was an independent school in Norwich, England. Founded in 1910, it became the Langley School shortly after World War II.
Norwich High School for Boys was founded in 1910 by Jeremiah George Chapman. He was born in Panxworth, Norfolk in 1859 and came to Norwich aged eleven to train under Mr J H Tench who became an Inspector of Schools. He started his teaching career at the King Edward VI Middle School, of which ultimately he became house master. In 1910, the school was amalgamated with the Higher Grade School and the Presbyterian School to form the City of Norwich School. At this time, at the request of parents, Mr Chapman started the part boarding, part day school in St Giles, Norwich where he was the principal until his death on the 26th September 1936.[1]
The school started with 80 boys in St Giles’s House, but when the numbers grew, Mr Chapman built a new school building on an adjoining site. During certain periods as many as 240 boys were in the school, including 40 boarders. Some of them came from different parts of England and others from South America, France and Jersey. The school celebrated its silver jubilee in 1935.[2]
During the Second World War, the school moved out of Norwich to Langley Park, near Loddon, Norfolk. It was still known as Norwich High School for Boys in 1943,[3] but is now known as Langley School.
Famous alumni include the actor John Mills who joined the school in the winter of 1920. He was badly bullied at the school according to comments in his autobiography.[4]