Background
Hull Grammar School was endowed by John Alcock, Bishop of Worcester in 1479. The son of a Hull apprenticed merchant, Alcock eventually rose to become Lord Chancellor. This school, for boys only, was situated on the south side of Holy Trinity Church. The school would occupy several other locations around the city until in 1953 it moved to new buildings, on what would eventually be called Bishop Alcock Road, on Bricknell Avenue.
In 1988, under reorganisation proposals, the name of the school was to disappear. On hearing this, a group was formed to try and save its name and traditions. This resulted in the creation in 1989 of a new independent Hull Grammar School, a co-educational school for pupils up to the age of 18 years. It occupied the site of the former Marist College on Cottingham Road. By 1991 the school was in severe economic difficulties and eventually merged with Hull High School to form the new Hull Collegiate School in 2005.
What do the records of the Grammar School tell me?
These records give an insight into the role the school played within Hull and its close links with the city. Many of its old boys have gone on to fill important roles in many areas such as the legal and ecclesiastical professions, industry, commerce and the arts.
Old boys include Andrew Marvell in the 1630s, William Wilberforce in 1776, Rev. Richard Johnson, the first Anglican chaplain to New South Wales in 1786, and Roderick Wilson Day, a member of Scott’s Antarctic expedition in 1912, as well as many local civic and business leaders. In addition, the records provide an example of the type of education a grammar school could provide generally.
What do the records contain?
They contain:
- The records of the School Governing Body (1905-1990);
- Headteacher's papers (1924-1995);
- Records relating to the Grammar School and the Charity Commission (1894-1990);
- Records relating to buildings (1875-1989);
- Staff records (1893-1990);
- Pupils records (1881-1996);
- Publications (1889-1997);
- Events (1880-2000);
- Records relating to Old Grammarians (1750-2002) and the Hull Grammar School Parents, Teachers and Friends Association (1971-1990).
How do I access the collection?
Much of the collection is available for anyone to use and has been given the unique reference number C DEHG.
However, some of these records will be subject to access restrictions under data protection legislation (see Accessing Sensitive Information for more information). Closed records are indicated in the catalogue.