Barring out
Encyclopedia
Barring out is a custom
, formerly common in English
school
s, of barring the master
from the school premises. A typical example of this practice was at the school in Bromfield, Cumbria
, where, William Hutchinson says, "it was the custom, time out of mind, for the scholars, at Fasting's Even (the beginning of Lent
) to depose and exclude the master from the school for three days." During this period the school doors were barricaded and the boys armed with mock weapons. If the master's attempts to re-enter were successful, extra tasks were inflicted as a penalty, and willingly performed by the boys. On the third day terms of capitulation, usually in Latin verse, were signed, and these always conceded the immediate right to indulge in football
and a cockfight
. The custom was long retained at Eton College
and figures in many school stories (i.e. Billy Bunter
's Barring Out (1948)http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/frank-richards/billy-bunters-barring-out.htm)
Barring out continued in Falstone
, a small village in the North Tyne valley, Northumberland, until 1940 when the then headmaster Mr William Moody, who had not been told of the custom, demanded entrance to his school and the students eventually relented and let him enter.
More serious incidents of barring out have been described for the The Royal School, Armagh
, and Belfast Royal Academy
in Northern Ireland
; and for the Royal High School
of Edinburgh, Scotland.
The custom extended to some early Colonial schools, such as William and Mary College, when Dr. James Blair was barred out in 1702 by boys of the college (then a grammar school) and was shot at with pistols upon attempting to enter.
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
, formerly common in English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s, of barring the master
Schoolmaster
A schoolmaster, or simply master, once referred to a male school teacher. This usage survives in British public schools, but is generally obsolete elsewhere.The teacher in charge of a school is the headmaster...
from the school premises. A typical example of this practice was at the school in Bromfield, Cumbria
Bromfield, Cumbria
Bromfield is a village and civil parish in the Allerdale district of Cumbria, England.It is about five miles north-east of Aspatria. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 530. It has 2 farms, a church dedicated to St Mungo, and a pub....
, where, William Hutchinson says, "it was the custom, time out of mind, for the scholars, at Fasting's Even (the beginning of Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
) to depose and exclude the master from the school for three days." During this period the school doors were barricaded and the boys armed with mock weapons. If the master's attempts to re-enter were successful, extra tasks were inflicted as a penalty, and willingly performed by the boys. On the third day terms of capitulation, usually in Latin verse, were signed, and these always conceded the immediate right to indulge in football
English public school football games
During the early modern era students, former students and teachers at English public schools developed and wrote down the first codes of football, most notably the Eton College...
and a cockfight
Cockfight
A cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters , held in a ring called a cockpit. Cockfighting is now illegal throughout all states in the United States, Brazil, Australia and in most of Europe. It is still legal in several U.S. territories....
. The custom was long retained at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and figures in many school stories (i.e. Billy Bunter
Billy Bunter
William George Bunter , is a fictional character created by Charles Hamilton using the pen name Frank Richards...
's Barring Out (1948)http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/frank-richards/billy-bunters-barring-out.htm)
Barring out continued in Falstone
Falstone
Falstone is a small village in Northumberland, England, just south of Kielder Water. The village is from the Anglo–Scottish border. The name Falstone means "speckled stone".Falstone holds a popular annual agricultural show.- Governance :...
, a small village in the North Tyne valley, Northumberland, until 1940 when the then headmaster Mr William Moody, who had not been told of the custom, demanded entrance to his school and the students eventually relented and let him enter.
More serious incidents of barring out have been described for the The Royal School, Armagh
The Royal School, Armagh
The Royal School, Armagh is a co-educational voluntary grammar school in the city of Armagh, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. It was one of a number of free schools created by King James I of England in 1608 to provide an education to the sons of local merchants and farmers during the plantation...
, and Belfast Royal Academy
Belfast Royal Academy
The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
; and for the Royal High School
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
of Edinburgh, Scotland.
The custom extended to some early Colonial schools, such as William and Mary College, when Dr. James Blair was barred out in 1702 by boys of the college (then a grammar school) and was shot at with pistols upon attempting to enter.