Tottenham Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Tottenham Grammar School (TGS) was a renowned grammar school
in North London, with local football connections.
.
. The name came from the Hotspur Cricket
Club, of which boys from the school were members. This football club subsequently became Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
.
, was used as the school until 1937. The new building was opened by Algernon Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset
on 12 October 1910, and cost £10,327. The school had four houses - Somerset, Morley, Bruce and Howard.
In 1971 it became the Education department of Haringey Council.
, to be taught at King Edward's Grammar School in the afternoons. The boys lived around the village of Writtle
, west of Chelmsford; some also went to Hatfield Peverel
, specifically Hatfield Peverel Priory
.
From 1941, once the blitz had finished (10 May 1941). An Army Cadet Corps was formed, along with an Air Training Corps in 1942 - 1571 Squadron, now known as Aylward Squadron.
. The school's houses were now Baxter, Coleraine, Drayton and Hill.
Due to falling numbers this school closed in 1988, by which time it was situated on one site on White Hart Lane. The Lower School was demolished to become a housing estate on Somerset Close. The Upper School was demolished in 1989, becoming a housing estate on Somerset Gardens, and a site for Middlesex University
- halls of residence for the Tottenham Campus, which closed in 2005 (the former St Katharine's College teacher training college).
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
in North London, with local football connections.
History
A Tottenham Grammar School had existed for centuries. Its origins are unclear, possibly dating back to 1456 but in 1631 a legacy was left by Sarah, Duchess of Somerset to extend the existing school house and provide free education to poor children from TottenhamTottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
.
Tottenham Hotspur
In 1882, pupils from the school and from St Johns Presbyterian school formed Hotspur F.C at All Hallows ChurchAll Hallows, Tottenham
All Hallows is an Anglican church in Tottenham, North London. It is one of the oldest buildings in the London Borough of Haringey, being built as All Saints Church in the 12th century. It was re-dedicated as All Hallows in the 15th century, standing adjacent to Bruce Castle and Tottenham Cemetery...
. The name came from the Hotspur Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
Club, of which boys from the school were members. This football club subsequently became Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
History of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur F.C. is an English football club based in Tottenham, London. The club was formed in 1882, as Hotspur F.C., and played in the Southern League until 1908, when they were elected into the Football League Second Division...
.
Former building
In 1910, the old school was knocked down apart from the Masters House (later to be destroyed by bombs in World War II). The new building on Somerset Road, built by Middlesex County CouncilMiddlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council was the principal local government body in the administrative county of Middlesex from 1889 to 1965.The county council was created by the Local Government Act 1888, which also removed the most populous part of the county to constitute the County of London...
, was used as the school until 1937. The new building was opened by Algernon Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset
Algernon Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset
Algernon St. Maur, later Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset, etc. was the son of Algernon St. Maur, 14th Duke of Somerset and Horatia Morler. He was also a baronet....
on 12 October 1910, and cost £10,327. The school had four houses - Somerset, Morley, Bruce and Howard.
In 1971 it became the Education department of Haringey Council.
New building
On 26 February 1938 due to increased numbers at the school, a site was opened on Creighton Road near White Hart Lane by Middlesex County Council. It housed 450 boys. In the early part of the War, at the time of the Blitz, the boys were evacuated to ChelmsfordChelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, to be taught at King Edward's Grammar School in the afternoons. The boys lived around the village of Writtle
Writtle
The village of Writtle lies a mile west of Chelmsford, Essex, England, it has a traditional village green, complete with duck pond and a Norman church; and was once described as: 'one of the loveliest villages in England, with a ravishing variety of ancient cottages'...
, west of Chelmsford; some also went to Hatfield Peverel
Hatfield Peverel
Hatfield Peverel is a large urban village and civil parish in the centre of Essex, England. Its population, including the hamlet of Nounsley, is approximately 5,500 . Hatfield means a 'heathery space in the forest'; Peverel refers to William Peverel, the Norman knight granted lands in the area by...
, specifically Hatfield Peverel Priory
Hatfield Peverel Priory
Hatfield Peverel Priory was a Benedictine priory in Essex, England, founded as a secular college before 1087 and converted into priory as a cell of St Albans by William Peverel ante 1100...
.
From 1941, once the blitz had finished (10 May 1941). An Army Cadet Corps was formed, along with an Air Training Corps in 1942 - 1571 Squadron, now known as Aylward Squadron.
V2 explosion
On 15 March 1945, a V-2 rocket landed on the corner of White Hart Lane and Queen Street, killing two fourth-year boys, with another losing his right arm.New buildings
In 1960 new buildings opened for the sixth form and laboratories. By this time the school had 700 boys.Comprehensive
In 1967 the school merged with the Rowland Hill Secondary Modern School in Lordship Lane, which was named after Sir Arthur Rowland Hill and had opened in 1938, to form the Somerset School, a voluntary-controlled boys' comprehensive schoolComprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
. The school's houses were now Baxter, Coleraine, Drayton and Hill.
Due to falling numbers this school closed in 1988, by which time it was situated on one site on White Hart Lane. The Lower School was demolished to become a housing estate on Somerset Close. The Upper School was demolished in 1989, becoming a housing estate on Somerset Gardens, and a site for Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
- halls of residence for the Tottenham Campus, which closed in 2005 (the former St Katharine's College teacher training college).
Foundation
The sale of the school provided £9.1 million, which was used to set up a charitable foundation, the Tottenham Grammar School Foundation.Alumni
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Other "Tottenham" schools
- Tottenham County School, a co-educational grammar school on Selby Road - became Tottenham School in 1967, then White Hart Lane School in 1983 when it merged with the Wood Green Comprehensive School
- Tottenham High School for Girls on High Road, became the High Cross Girls' School in 1967