On April 4th, 1851, Dunningham was elected perpetual curate of St. Mary at the Quay, Ipswich, and accordingly resigned the mastership. No mention of a successor was made until June 20th, when the Town Clerk advertised for candidates, but by August 33 applications had been received. A special committee of the Council was appointed to consider the various testimonials, and on September 19th one candidate was unanimously recommended and elected, the Rev. William Wright, D.C.L. The School had been closed on Dunningham's resignation and did not reopen until February 4th, 1852.
Meanwhile attention had been turned to the condition of the old building. In June, 1851, the trustees had recommended that Westons should not be further repaired, but demolished, and a new building erected either on the old site or some other. This was supported by the Essex Standard (July 18th, 1851), particularly as a new Grammar School had recently been built at Ipswich; and in August the trustees proposed a plot of one and a half acres in St. Mary's Parish belonging to the School as the new site (Essex Standard, August 15th, 1851). The only approach to this site was from "the walk opposite the Union House," but it was hoped to obtain a frontage on Balkerne Lane (see Fig. 2).
This proposal was apparently not in favour with the towns-people, and other suggestions were made, many letters on the subject appearing in the Essex Standard at this time. On October 17th one, "G. M.," wrote to suggest the opening of a fund, himself offering £10 if 40 others would each subscribe the same sum, or £20 if 30 others could be found to contribute the same. The editorial note introducing the letter joined in condemning the proposed site, partly upon the grounds of its insignificance, and partly because it was "surrounded by cottages which, it might be feared, would in time become the harbour of parties badly qualified to be the neighbours of the rising generation." For similar reasons a proposal to build the new school in High Street was discounted.
Another letter (October 24th) suggested "the field situated betwixt the hospital and Beverley Lodge " (i.e. Gurney Benham House), " the property … of C. G. Round," as the ideal site, and on November 14th the Trustees announced that they did not regard the choice of the Balkerne Hill site as final. In February, 1852, a committee of 12 was formed to solicit subscriptions, and by these means £1,600 was raised. The Trustees were unable to apply any considerable sum from the School's endowment except under the direction of the Court of Chancery, and a request for permission had to be made. The order approving the project was granted in 1852. Meanwhile the present site on the London road was selected, and on August 12th, 1852, the foundations of the new buildings were laid (Fig. 1.)
Westons was sold unceremoniously by public auction at the "Three Cups" on May 4th, 1853, and "after a spirited bidding by the company present the property … was knocked down to
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