Glossop Heritage Trust

Glossopdale Schools

Duke of Norfolk's Church of England School, Old Glossop


Originally Endowed and Built, with Master's residence, in 1852 by Henry Charles 13th Duke of Norfolk, enlarged in 1887 to accommodate 250 boys, 250 girls and 100 infants.


White's History, Gazeteer & Directory of Derbyshire & Sheffield, 1857, describes the school as "The Grammar School, Old Glossop" and tells us it was "a handsome Elizabethan stone building, erected by the late Duke of Norfolk, in 1852, at a cost of £2000. It is situated at the west end of the church-yard and consists of a boy's, girls' and infants' rooms, with residence for the head-master; the boys' room is 90 feet by 33 feet, and 23 feet high. The master's residence forms the eastern end of the building, and the girls' and infants' rooms the western. It will afford accommodation for above 500 children and the average attendance is about 400." The head master was Mr Alfred J. Littler. The directory goes on to say "The Mechanics Institution, established in 1842, is held in the Grammar School, in connection with which is an excellent collection of upwards of 10,000 volumes of books, besides the leading periodicals. It consists of about 100 members who pay an annual subscription of 5s; Mr Adam Knott, Librarian.".
Further information is given under Charities: "In 1852, His Grace the late Duke of Norfolk had the old school taken down and the present handsome structure erected on the site, at a cost of £2,000, and which he munificently endowed with £4000, 3 per cent consols. It is termed the Grammar or Head school, and is capable of accommodating 550 children; the present attendance is above 400, viz., Upper school, 59 boys and 79 girls; Second school, 133 boys; Infants' school, 130. The terms are, boys, classical instruction, 15s. per quarter; Commercial only, 10s. Second school, boys, 4d per week. Girls school, First division 3d., and Second division 2d. per week. The head master receives a salary of £70 per annum (and the fees) with residence; the Mistress £45 per annum, and the Infant schoolmaster £25 per annum, both inclusive of fees, but no residence. The schools are open to children of all denominations.".
The Post Office Directory of Derbyshire, 1876, says "In the immediate vicinity of the parish church is a large and handsome endowed school, with residence for the master, built and endowed by the late Henry Charles Duke of Norfolk. There are upwards of 300 scholars on the registers.". In the list of schools it states that William Mitchell was master and Mrs Emma Mitchell, mistress.
Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, 1895, has a list of schools including this entry. "Endowed, Old Glossop, with master's residence, built and endowed in 1852 by Henry Charles, 13th Duke of Norfolk, & enlarged in 1887, for 250 boys, 250 girls and 100 infants; average attendance, 100 boys, 70 girls & 65 infants; Arthur Henry Roberts, master; Miss Moore, mistress; Miss Arnold, infants' mistress.".

Do you have a school photo for Duke of Norfolk's School? Do you appear on a photograph but are not named? Can you supply any missing names for the photographs already on these pages? If so, please click here to send us an e-mail.

Duke of Norfolk's Class, 1902.
4th right on the front row, next to the girl with the board is Edith Brooks.
Many thanks to Mr K Bickerdike for supplying the name and date. 		Duke of Norfolk's Class, 1902


Duke of Norfolk's Class IV, ca 1922-23 Duke of Norfolk's Class IV, ca 1922-23.
On the extreme left of the front row is Rita Taylor (later Broadbent).
Robert J Brown is standing behind her, extreme left.

Thanks very much to Carole Byrne who tells us : "The girl in the middle of the front row with her arms folded is my mother Ada Johnson (later Cooper). The girls on either side of her were twins Mary and Beatrice Pattison or Patterson."



Duke of Norfolk's Class, 1928.
Back Row: --?--, Frank Chapman, Fred Byrom, Douglas Bickerdike, --?--, --?--
Second row: Frank Conner, Ronnie Biddle, --?--, --?--, Frank Matthews, Stanley Bruckshaw, Frank Bradbury, --?--.
Third row: --?--, --?--, --?--, --?--, Margaret Seville, --?--, --?--.
Front row: --?--, Marion Hallows, Margaret Bradbury, Josephine Sayers.
Many thanks to Mr K Bickerdike for supplying the names. 		Duke of Norfolk's Class, 1928


Duke of Norfolk's Class, 1935 Duke of Norfolk's Class, 1935.
Back Row: Sydney Bunting, James Storah, Tom Mather, Wright Waterhouse, Arthus Higginbottom, George Wharmby, Albert Simpson.
Second row: Freda Marsden, Dorothy Capper, Jean Holt, Eunice Shepherd, Audrey Sharples, Joan Baily, Sarah Mellor.
Third row: Eilene Thornley, Dorothy Battersby, Margaret (Peggy) Hallam, Alice Littler, Margery Doodson, Sheila Winterbottom, Miss Mansfield (Teacher).
Front row: Gerald Culverwell, Kenneth Bickerdike, Alan Maltby, William Mathews, Stanley Winterbottom.
Many thanks to Mr K Bickerdike for supplying the names.


Duke of Norfolk's Class, circa 1954 ( pupils would be about 7 years old.).
Back row: Mrs Jean Biddle, --?--, --?--, --?--, --?--.
Third row: Tony Kenyon, Wilfred Jones, John Hyde, John Broadbent, Keith Tinsdeall, --?--, --?--.
Second row: Rosalind Bowden, Ann Birchenough, Jennifer Hyde, Joanna Fowden, Judith Ramsden, --?--, Julia Cadman.
Front row: --?--, John Cullen, Michael Sanderson, Peter Pascall, Peter Dwyer, Geoffrey O Booth, John Holden. 		Duke of Norfolk's Class, circa 1954


Duke of Norfolk's Class, circa 1956 Duke of Norfolk's Class, circa 1956 (pupils would be about 8 years old).
Back row: Miss Kathleen Mary Downs, Pam Oliver, Elizabeth Robertson, Sheila Ford, Jane Bannister, Rosemary Bradbury, Hazel Hanmer.
Third row: Philip Hall, --?--, John Broadbent, Kenneth Oldham, Michael Naden, Martyn Chilman.
Second row: Joyce Marsden, Jean Stafford, Jennifer Kain, Jacqueline Barber, Kathleen Longson, Pamela Woodcock, --?--, Dorothy Coates.
Front row: Philip Schofield, Philip Barber, Guy Rogers, Julian Batsleer, John Slinger, Martin Reed.


Duke of Norfolk's Class, 1958.
Back Row: Fred Colclough [Head], --?--, Jaqueline Barber, Sheila Ford, Rosemary Bradbury, Ann Birchenough, Elizabeth Robertson, Susan Davies, Teacher Eddie Leney.
Third row: Phillip Hall, Tony Kenyon, Kenneth Oldham, --?--, John Barber, John Broadbent, Keith Tinsdale, Derek Barnet.
Second Row: Joyce Marsden, Jennifer Kane, Pam Oliver, --?--, Jean Stafford, Maralyn Riley, Pamela Woodcock, --?--.
Front Row: Martin Reed, Wilfred Jones, --?--, Martin Booth, Martin Chilman, Guy Rogers, Philip Schofield. 		Duke of Norfolk's Class, 1958

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Page last updated: 21 November 2011.