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ONA — Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
A HISTORY OF THE RGS IN TEN OBJECTS
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nspired by the BBC’s excellent series A History of the World in 100 Objects, hosted by the British Museum’s Neil McGregor, it occurred to me that a similar approach could be taken with the long and varied story of the Royal Grammar School.
After some thought, there are a number of ‘Objects’ which would be familiar to almost everyone who has attended the school over the past few hundred years. Rather than merely list and provide a photograph of each, the idea developed into something wider, which it is to be hoped will forge a new and innovative link between past and present members of the school, Old Novos and boys and girls at present studying at our great school. Most of the seven objects selected here fit exactly into the mould. What ONA Magazine is interested in is three further objects to make up the ten, selected by students at the school, as well as Old Novos . As in the recent BBC series, we would like some additional detail through background research, either from the study of school or local archives, or perhaps even received information from Old Novos or other sources. Of course, it might be difficult to contact Old Novos who attended the school before the 20th Century, but you would be surprised at the store of knowledge held by many ONs from the last (20th) Century! Here, then, are the seven objects (so far) which stand out as being special to the History of the RGS.
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First is the Royal Charter of 1600 granted by Queen Elizabeth the First to the Town and County of Newcastle by which its rights and privileges were ‘defined, confirmed and improved’. One of the consequences of the Charter was the removal soon after of the School from St Nicholas Churchyard to the Hospital of St Mary the Virgin in the Westgate. Where is this Charter? What does it say about the School?
