The days of caps and canes

THIS photograph is one of the earliest we have in the Garton Archive and features the headmaster, staff, and pupils of the Middle School section of Lincoln Grammar School.

It was taken in 1895 in the playground area to the north of the Greyfriars building on ground now occupied by the Central Library.

In 1883 local political disputes had led to the reorganization of the school into the ‘Grammar’ (upper) and the Middle (lower), each with its own governing body. At that time the Middle School occupied the top floor of the Greyfriars building and the Upper School moved to new premises on Upper Lindum Street, designed by the Lincoln architect William Watkins, the father of five Lincoln School pupils. The school was opened by Bishop King and now forms part of the Minster School. However, many older Lincoln residents will remember it as St Joseph’s Convent.

The Headmaster of the Middle School, Revd Robert Markham Hill, is pictured on the left wearing his gown and mortar board and lovingly caressing his dog. His behaviour towards the boys was somewhat less kindly, however, as he was renowned for his addiction to caning! Painful memories of my own days at Lincoln School during the 1950s.

The gentleman on the right sporting a fine moustache is the ‘usher’ or under master, J E Kent, a former pupil of the school and a graduate with a BA from London University. As you can see, caps were mandatory at that time as indeed they were in later years when boys caught not wearing a cap on the way to school were subject to disciplinary action by masters or prefects. The Middle School enjoyed a reputation for good teaching of Latin, English and French and for its basic training in commercial subjects. Although something of a martinet, Headmaster Hill was respected for his high standards and his boys were able to take advantage of various scholarships including those available from the Christ’s Hospital Foundation for transfer to the Upper School. It was a matter of pride to Hill that many of his boys went on to win university scholarships.

The division of the school into two separate sections ended in 1900, when it became clear that neither school was strong enough economically or numerically to flourish independently and the Middle School moved uphill to merge once again with the Upper School.

A new Headmaster, Mr Frank Harding Chambers MA, who founded the successful Cadet Corps at the school, was appointed to negotiate for a new site to house the growing numbers, and Lincoln Grammar School moved to its familiar iconic position on Wragby Road in 1907.

The school remained there until comprehensive education was introduced in 1974 when the two schools combined with Myle Cross Secondary Girls’ School and St Giles Secondary Boys’ School to form Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School.

Greestone Stairs - original Duckering Victorian lamp column with lantern and ladder bar. Adjacent, handrail with original cast stanchions.