Henry Herbert Symonds
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Henry Herbert Symonds (1885 – 28 December 1958) was an English Anglican priest, teacher and conservationist.
From 1909 to 1935 he followed a career as a teacher, first at Clifton College
and Rugby School
, and later as headmaster of The King's School, Chester
and the Liverpool Institute High School. He was a classicist
, but encouraged his pupils to broaden their education by studying English literature and the fine arts.
Symonds, who had a lifelong love of the countryside, retired at the age of 50, and devoted his life to the cause of national parks
, and the Lake District
in particular. He was one of the principal driving forces behind the legislation that introduced national parks to Britain after the Second World War.
, Warwickshire
, the son of Henry Symonds (1859-1933), a barrister
, and his wife Florence Annie née Whitfield (1862-1941). His birth was registered in the first quarter of 1885 and he was baptised on 26 April 1885 at Leamington. He was educated at Rugby School
and Oriel College, Oxford, where he took a first class degree in Greats
(classics
). While at Oxford he came under the influence of Hastings Rashdall
, who inspired him with a lifelong love of the Lake District
. After leaving Oxford he was appointed to the teaching staff of Clifton College
in 1909. In 1911 he married Gwendolen Watson, with whom he had a son and two daughters.
In 1912 Symonds returned to Rugby as a master, taking charge of the senior classics form (known as the "Upper Bench"), a post that he retained for ten years. The Manchester Guardian wrote of this period of his career, "Symonds was a teacher of the highest order. He was exact in scholarship and copious in knowledge. His love for the Hellenic civilisation was profound and contagious: he was concerned that his pupils should be as familiar with its beauty as with its grammar and its chronology. They responded so well that three of his pupils took Firsts in Greats in a single year."
Symonds did not take a narrow view of the teaching of classics, and encouraged his pupils to study English literature and the fine arts, and to take up cross-country walking. He frequently invited them to his house to meet distinguished figures from politics and trade unions. He was active in the local branch of the Workers' Educational Association
. In the school chapel some of his sermons were thought by traditionalists to be too radical, and there was controversy when he preached a sermon considered pacifist in tone.
In 1922, Symonds was appointed headmaster of The King's School, Chester
. He later described his two years there as "somewhat storm-tossed, but educationally vital." In 1924 he was appointed headmaster of the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys. Here, The Manchester Guardian wrote, "he found real 'elbow-room' … He was able to spread some liberalising doctrines and disciplines through a great day school." As at Rugby, he instructed the senior pupils in literature, painting, sculpture and architecture. One of his pupils later recalled:
Admission to the school was strictly on intellectual ability, and many of the pupils came from families of modest means; Symonds personally subsidised many of them and helped them go on to a university education. He set up school camps in the Lake District
in the Borrowdale
and Duddon
valleys.
In 1932 Symonds was invited to join the Headmasters' Conference
. This would have given the Liverpool Institute the same official status as the leading public schools, but Symonds declined the invitation, explaining, despite local controversy, that the school belonged to the City of Liverpool and did not need to seek any other status.
. He had for some years been active in this sphere; he was the founding chairman of the association that opened Britain's first youth hostels for young walkers, was editor of the journal of the National Council of Ramblers' Federations, and published a book Walking in the Lake District in 1933. From 1935 he gave all his time to the Lake District and associated causes. He joined the new organisation Friends of the Lake District, and for "the next twenty years was its moving spirit", as treasurer, later secretary, and finally chairman. For the Councils for the Preservation of Rural England and Wales he was secretary to their joint National Parks Committee. In 1948 he presided at what became known as the "Ogwen Demonstration" at which hundreds of ramblers gathered to protest against plans to introduce intrusive hydro-electric plant into Snowdonia
. His first wife died in 1937; the following year he married Ruth Williams; there were no children of the second marriage.
When the postwar Labour government finally introduced a parliamentary bill to enshrine national parks in British law, Symonds was a driving force in shaping the legislation. He was appointed to the planning board of the new Lake District National Park, and in 1957 he was invited to become a member of the National Parks Commission. In his later years he also served as president of the Ramblers' Association.
Symonds died in 1958, aged 73, leaving his estate, which was valued at £78,515 (equal to about £3,460,000 in 2009 terms), to the National Trust
. It consisted chiefly of five farms in the Lake District. He left little money, having given most of what he had to the trust and other conservation bodies during his lifetime.
From 1909 to 1935 he followed a career as a teacher, first at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
and Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
, and later as headmaster of The King's School, Chester
The King's School, Chester
The King's School, Chester is a British coeducational independent 7-18 school situated just outside the city of Chester. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....
and the Liverpool Institute High School. He was a classicist
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
, but encouraged his pupils to broaden their education by studying English literature and the fine arts.
Symonds, who had a lifelong love of the countryside, retired at the age of 50, and devoted his life to the cause of national parks
National parks of England and Wales
The national parks of England and Wales are areas of relatively undeveloped and scenic landscape that are designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949...
, and the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
in particular. He was one of the principal driving forces behind the legislation that introduced national parks to Britain after the Second World War.
Early life and teaching career
Symonds was born in LeamingtonLeamington
-Places:* Leamington, Ontario, Canada* Leamington, Utah, USA* Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England-Other:* HMS Leamington, a U.S. Navy destroyer transferred to the United Kingdom, see USS Twiggs...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, the son of Henry Symonds (1859-1933), a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, and his wife Florence Annie née Whitfield (1862-1941). His birth was registered in the first quarter of 1885 and he was baptised on 26 April 1885 at Leamington. He was educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and Oriel College, Oxford, where he took a first class degree in Greats
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
(classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
). While at Oxford he came under the influence of Hastings Rashdall
Hastings Rashdall
Hastings Rashdall was an English philosopher who expounded a theory known as ideal utilitarianism.Son of an Anglican priest, he was educated at Harrow and received a scholarship for New College, Oxford...
, who inspired him with a lifelong love of the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
. After leaving Oxford he was appointed to the teaching staff of Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
in 1909. In 1911 he married Gwendolen Watson, with whom he had a son and two daughters.
In 1912 Symonds returned to Rugby as a master, taking charge of the senior classics form (known as the "Upper Bench"), a post that he retained for ten years. The Manchester Guardian wrote of this period of his career, "Symonds was a teacher of the highest order. He was exact in scholarship and copious in knowledge. His love for the Hellenic civilisation was profound and contagious: he was concerned that his pupils should be as familiar with its beauty as with its grammar and its chronology. They responded so well that three of his pupils took Firsts in Greats in a single year."
Symonds did not take a narrow view of the teaching of classics, and encouraged his pupils to study English literature and the fine arts, and to take up cross-country walking. He frequently invited them to his house to meet distinguished figures from politics and trade unions. He was active in the local branch of the Workers' Educational Association
Workers' Educational Association
The Workers’ Educational Association seeks to provide access to education and lifelong learning for adults from all backgrounds, and in particular those who have previously missed out on education. The International Federation of Workers Education Associations has consultative status to UNESCO...
. In the school chapel some of his sermons were thought by traditionalists to be too radical, and there was controversy when he preached a sermon considered pacifist in tone.
In 1922, Symonds was appointed headmaster of The King's School, Chester
The King's School, Chester
The King's School, Chester is a British coeducational independent 7-18 school situated just outside the city of Chester. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....
. He later described his two years there as "somewhat storm-tossed, but educationally vital." In 1924 he was appointed headmaster of the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys. Here, The Manchester Guardian wrote, "he found real 'elbow-room' … He was able to spread some liberalising doctrines and disciplines through a great day school." As at Rugby, he instructed the senior pupils in literature, painting, sculpture and architecture. One of his pupils later recalled:
Admission to the school was strictly on intellectual ability, and many of the pupils came from families of modest means; Symonds personally subsidised many of them and helped them go on to a university education. He set up school camps in the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
in the Borrowdale
Borrowdale
Borrowdale is a valley and civil parish in the English Lake District in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England.Borrowdale lies within the historic county boundaries of Cumberland, and is sometimes referred to as Cumberland Borrowdale in order to distinguish it from another Borrowdale in the...
and Duddon
Duddon Valley
The Duddon Valley is a valley in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The River Duddon flows through the valley, rising in the mountains between Eskdale and Langdale, before flowing into the Irish Sea near Broughton in Furness...
valleys.
In 1932 Symonds was invited to join the Headmasters' Conference
Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference is an association of the headmasters or headmistressess of 243 leading day and boarding independent schools in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and the Republic of Ireland...
. This would have given the Liverpool Institute the same official status as the leading public schools, but Symonds declined the invitation, explaining, despite local controversy, that the school belonged to the City of Liverpool and did not need to seek any other status.
Work for the Lake District
In 1935, on his 50th birthday, Symonds, resigned the headmastership, retired from teaching, and dedicated the rest of his life to preserving the beauty of the Lake District and promoting national parksNational parks of England and Wales
The national parks of England and Wales are areas of relatively undeveloped and scenic landscape that are designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949...
. He had for some years been active in this sphere; he was the founding chairman of the association that opened Britain's first youth hostels for young walkers, was editor of the journal of the National Council of Ramblers' Federations, and published a book Walking in the Lake District in 1933. From 1935 he gave all his time to the Lake District and associated causes. He joined the new organisation Friends of the Lake District, and for "the next twenty years was its moving spirit", as treasurer, later secretary, and finally chairman. For the Councils for the Preservation of Rural England and Wales he was secretary to their joint National Parks Committee. In 1948 he presided at what became known as the "Ogwen Demonstration" at which hundreds of ramblers gathered to protest against plans to introduce intrusive hydro-electric plant into Snowdonia
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
. His first wife died in 1937; the following year he married Ruth Williams; there were no children of the second marriage.
When the postwar Labour government finally introduced a parliamentary bill to enshrine national parks in British law, Symonds was a driving force in shaping the legislation. He was appointed to the planning board of the new Lake District National Park, and in 1957 he was invited to become a member of the National Parks Commission. In his later years he also served as president of the Ramblers' Association.
Symonds died in 1958, aged 73, leaving his estate, which was valued at £78,515 (equal to about £3,460,000 in 2009 terms), to the National Trust
National Trust
National Trust most commonly refers to an organization dedicated to preserving the cultural or environmental treasures of a particular geographic region. They generally operate as private non-profit organizations, although some receive considerable support from their national government...
. It consisted chiefly of five farms in the Lake District. He left little money, having given most of what he had to the trust and other conservation bodies during his lifetime.