Account of the Boys' Charity School founded, in 1733, by Mrs. Katherine Bayley, in the city of Coventry

by William George Fretton

Mrs. Bayley's Charity School.

Charity Schools appear to have had their origin about the commencement of the 17th century, and for a period of about 200 years were the principal means of supplying education to the children of the poor. Their utility being manifest, we find the attention of the benevolentlydisposed very generally directed to their extension,and many were established during the first half of the last century in our large towns. Coventry is remarkably well off in these schools, five of which were established during and just before that period—one of them being the subject of this article. Katherine Bayley, of the parish of St. Michael, spinster, by will bearing date the 20th November, 1723, and proved at Lichfield on the 9th of April, 1731, left to the poor of St. Michael's £10 and to the poor of Trinity parish £5, to be distributed in bread. She also gave the sum of £600, and all the residue of her estate (after her debts, legacies, and funeral expenses were discharged) unto her executors and trustees in trust, to be by them laid out and applied for the educating and instructing of children in reading, writing, and casting accounts, and for such other charities, and in such manner as they, her said executors and trustees or survivors, in their or his discretion, should think most proper; and that they and the survivor of them might appoint trustees to see the charities by them settled faithfully and truly applied according to and in such manner as they, the said trustees or survivor, should agree to settle the same. Mrs. Bayley died on the 20th February, 1730, aged 52, and was buried by her own desire in Trinity Church (by the side of her father), where her stone (recently recut by order of the trustees) may be seen; the entire absence of any eulogistic epitaph thereon characterising the genuine charity that actuated the mind of the benevolent lady. Mr. Blythe and his co-executor appear to have lost no time in carrying into effect the intentions of the foundress, and, after the settlement of the affairs, "the orders for the government of the Charity School," as the original quaintly expresses it, were finally determined upon on the 24th of June, 1733, and the first children were admitted, 16 in number, half of whom were girls. This arrangement seems however to have been considered undesirable and unnecessary, a school for girls having been established only a short time before; and we find that after a few years the admission of girls entirely ceased, the number of boys being increased to 20. In the first balance sheet occurs the entry:—"Paid Mr. Hughes his bill, £08,, 10,, 00," from which it appears that the clothing was supplied by a person bearing the same name as the worthy tradeeman who has for many years past fitted the boys with such satisfaction to the trustees. In the year following is an entry of £01,, 01,, 00, paid to the schoolmaster for "extraordinary trouble." Shortly after the establishment of the school we find three other trustees associated with the original executors in the management of it. The school appears to have been opened in a tenement behind the old Drapers’-hall in Bayley-lane, for which the trustees paid an annual rent of £4, the trustees holding their meetings in the hall. The first master was a Mr. Joseph Plant. He held the situation for 42 years, and was buried in St. Michael's Church, his stone being near the south porch, in the cross aisle. He was a licensed master, and the old books of the charity contain a considerable quantity of his writing in the plain and formal characters of the period. His salary was but moderate, being only £10 a year, with certain allowances for coals, & c., and a house rent free. The old rules are drawn up in quaint and precise phraseology, but are still observed as the basis of the present regulations of the foundation, due respect being had to modern requirements; one peculiar stipulation being that parents should give security of one guinea, before their children were clothed, that they should adhere to the rules. The master was also required to enter into a bond of £20 that he would faithfully fulfil his engagement. In 1742 the first collection in aid of the charity was made in St. Michael's Church, and the practice has been continued annually ever since. Edward Barratt succeeded Mr. Plant on his death in 1774, and in two years Richard Ireland was appointed master. Edward Reynolds in 1781, and Thomas Hall in 1800, successively held the office, and on the removal of the latter in 1806, Mr. Francis Marsson (father of the present clerk to the county magistrates) was elected to the post, which he filled with credit for thirty-six years. During his mastership the number of boys was in creased to 35, and the school was removed to the premises, still belonging to the trustees, in Little Park-street, which then comprised the old house (formerly inhabited by Mrs. Katherine Bayley, and in which it is most probable that she died) now numbered 89, and some tenements and gardens behind it. The room on the ground floor of this house, fronting the street, was fitted up for the school, and the boys first assembled there in 1822, the rest of the building being appropriated as a residence for the master, one of the gardens behind being also allowed him, and his salary raised from £40 to £50 per annum, with the privilege of taking day scholars. At this period the dress of the scholars presented a peculiarly grotesque appearance, and consisted of a stiff and by no means superfine hat, coat without either collar or lining, of similar cut to that now in use, but of much coarser and inferior material, knee breeches, blue stockings, and low shoes, with buckles. In 1842 trousers were substituted for the breeches, blue collars added to the coats, and good strong boots superseded the low shoes (buckles had for some time disappeared). In the same year Mr. Marsson died, after a long illness, and was succeeded by Mr. John Henry Fretton, of the Meriden National School. It had been for some time in contemplation to build a new school, and in 1845 a substantial, well-furnished room was completed on a portion of the garden, and opened on the 2nd of March, in that year, the expense amounting to between £300 and £400. At the same time a commodious play-ground was provided for the boys, and two small tenements in the rear of the premises were converted into a residence for the master. Shortly afterwards the practice of numbering the boys on the arm once a year was introduced, and has proved more effective than the old punishments of the logger and birch, wearing of a disgrace coal, or deprivation of clothes. This numbering is now revised about eight times a year. The boys bad for many years been admitted as vacancies occurred; but about this time the plan of admitting them annually at Easter was adopted, and the unseemly appearance of some in livery and some without, as the children walked to and from Church, ceased. Caps were also substituted for the uncomfortable hats, and better cloth used for the clothes. Drilling the boys, a monthly cutting of the hair, and occasional bathing in the summer was also introduced as opportunity served. During the progress of repairs to the master's house in 1847, a large chimney stack fell, carrying with it great part of the building, and rendering its entire removal necessary, a very fine old carved stone mantelpiece being destroyed in the fall. The house at that time occupied by the late Mr. Booth, builder, and forming part of the trustees property, was then appropriated to the master's use, the garden attached to it being added to what was left of the former one. In 1853, the funds having accumulated and been increased by sundry donations and good annual collections, an increase of 10 was added to the number on the foundation; and in 1855, in consequence of the munificent bequest of R. S. Cox, Esq., a further addition of five was made…raising the number of boys to 50. Mr. Fretton died in January, 1856, and was buried in Coventry Cemetery, where a stone was soon after erected to his memory by his old pupils and friends. He was succeeded in the master ship by his son, Mr. William George Fretton, late of the Southam National School, the present master. In the same year a band was established in connection with the school, vocal music being also introduced. In 1858 a circulating library of such books as were calculated to instruct and amuse children was commenced, the interest being kept up by the monthly addition of juvenile periodicals. The number of books now exceeds 1,000. They are largely used and highly appreciated by the scholars. The introduction of drawing has also been attended with very satisfactory results. In 1857 and 1858 considerable additions and improvements were made to the apparatus, the desks and other furniture re-arranged, a better mode of ventilation adopted, a new porch built, and other alterations carried out, with a view to the increased comfort of master and children; the quality of the clothing being also further improved. The holidays have been revised, and now consist of a week at Easter and Michaelmas, three weeks at Midsummer, two-and-a-half weeks at Christmas, besides a few days in the course of the year on special occasions. Excursions once or twice during the summer have been organised for the older boys by way of encouragement, the expenses of which are defrayed by a separate fund collected by the master. Visits have thus been paid, during the last seven years, to London, Lichfield, Matlock, Stratford-on-Avon, Rhyl, Warwick, Leamington, &c. During the recent depression an attempt was made to increase the number of boys on the foundation to 56, but owing to the falling off of the annual collections, depreciation of the charity property, the rise in price of material for boys' clothes, and other causes, the trustees have been compelled to return to the former number of 51, after an unsuccessful trial of four years; the premium, too, from the state of the funds, being of necessity reduced from £3 to £2.

The boys are elected annually, in February or March, and are selected from the children of resident mechanics, whose circumstances, character, or industry recommend them. The candidates are nominated by the trustees, and must be over ten years of age and under 11 at the time of their admission, and must produce a certificate of their baptism on application. The livery of the school comprises a drab coat, with dark blue collars and cuffs with brass buttons round them (after the style of the last century), drab vest, dark green corduroy trousers, black naval They are caps, boots, and socks (two pairs). newly clothed every Easter, and remain in the school three years, receiving three suits of clothes; all the requisites for their use in school being found gratuitously for them. They are carefully taught in the principles of the Christian faith, according to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, also in reading, writing, and casting accounts, and such other branches of secular instruction as may fit them for entering usefully on their future callings. They attend St. Michael's church twice on Sundays, where a portion of them form the afternoon choir. In 1832, a few of the boys were allowed to attend Christ Church to sing in the choir, as a temporary measure, which, however, lasted until 1856, when the practice was discontinued. Similar service has also been rendered recently at St. Michael's Chapel, in Much Park-street, and at St. Mary's, Red-lane, during the incumbency of the late vicar.

On leaving the school each boy is presented with a bible and prayer-book, and on his apprenticeship receives the premium. Many of the old scholars avail themselves of the advantages offered by the Church of England Young Men's Association (of which the present master is secretary), by becoming members, and so still continue the business of education after they have left school.

From time to time various legacies and donations have been given in augmentation of this charity, a list of which is preserved on a board suspended in St. Michael's church. The following is a copy:—

	£.	s.	d.
1772[1]—John Lowke, Esq.	0200	00	00
1778—Mr. Thomas Cleeve	0050	00	00
1792—Mr. William Edwards	0300	00	00
1807—Their R. H. the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex	0036	15	00
1815[2]—Richard Burgh, Esq.	0500	00	00
1823—Mrs. Eglinton	0050	00	00
1828—Mrs. Haycock	0019	19	00
1828—Sir Skears Rew, Knt.	0089	10	00
1853—Mr. Ford, Leicester	0100	00	00
1854—R. S. Cox, Esq.	1000	00	00
1855—H. Lea, Esq.	0019	19	00
1856—Mrs. Simpson	0050	00	00
1861—Mr. Knibb	0022	10	00

(The last-named had been educated in the school.)

None of the benefactors were trustees.

The present property comprises,—school, master's house and garden, large yard, and the house before-mentioned fronting the street (after being empty several years), now let to the Committee of the Coventry Church of England Young Men's Association at a reduced rental of £10 per annum. The sum of £5,755. 19s. 6d. is invested in the 3 per cent. Consols, and the income of the charity may be thus estimated:—

	£.	s.	d.
Interest on Console for a year	172	13	04
Rent of House	010	00	00
Net collection at sermon, estimated from the average of the last 9 years	080	00	00
	£262	13	04

The annual expenditure being on an average as follows:—

	£.	s.	d.
Boys' clothing	115	00	00
Premiums (say 17 in a year)	034	00	00
Master's salary	060	00	00
Other salaries for band and drill instructors, &c.	019	00	00
Rates, taxes, and insurance	008	00	00
Stationery, books, &c.	010	00	00
Repairs and sundries	010	00	00
	£25	00	00

From which it will be seen that the resources of the charity are made available to the utmost extent that they will possibly allow.

The amounts realised by the annual sermon formerly far exceeded those of the present day. In 1823, £153; in 1824, £173; in 1825, £157; in 1841, £151; and in 1842, £132, and over being collected. Among the preachers who have pleaded on behalf of the institution in past years may be mentioned,—the Revds. Spencer Madan, W. Gresley, J. Rann, Dr. James (Rugby School), Dr. Arnold (Rugby School), T. C. Adams, J. Moultrie, J. B. Owen, and the Lord Bishop of Lichfield.

The affairs of the foundation are managed by a board of trustees, who fill up vacancies in their number as they occur. The 5th Lord Craven was trustee of this charity until his decease, in 1769. Thomas Sharpe, the antiquarian, was also a trustee for many years. The late vicar of St. Michael's and his predecessor are the only instances of clerical appointments to this office, the whole of the others from the foundation having been laymen. There is one case only of a trustee being erased from the list for neglect of duty. The following is the present list, with the year of their election, one of whom is appointed annually as acting trustee:—

• C. Woodcock, Esq., 1838.
• R. Caldicott, Esq., 1841.
• W. Laxon, Esq., M.D., 1842.
• S. Vale, Esq., 1847.
• T. Soden Esq., A.T., 1853.
• B. Dunn , Esq., 1852.
• F. Wyley, Esq., 1859.
• J. Wyley, Esq., 1855.
• J. Odell, Esq., 1865.

---

1. John Lowke was one of the founders of the bank lately known as Little and Woodcock's, Thomas Little (Mr. Lowke's partner) was a trustee.
2. Richard Burgh also left £1,000 towards the repewing of St. Michael's Church, and was the son of Dr. Thomas Burgh, one of the original trustees appointed by Mr. Blithe, in 1735.