This Noble Foundation
The Sir John Moore School at Appleby Magna is housed in one of Leicestershire’s most interesting buildings. Built in 1697 by Sir William Wilson on an original plan by Sir Christopher Wren, a friend of Sir John Moore, the building stands in open fields on the edge of the village, dignified, imposing, even rather awesome in its unexpected presence in the rural isolation of Appleby Magna.
In THIS NOBLE FOUNDATION, Richard Dunmore tells the story of this famous school over its three hundred year history.
‘This noble foundation’, was Leicestershire historian John Nichols’ description of the school. It provided free education for the boys of Appleby and surrounding villages. Despite being a small school, it rapidly attracted the sons of families from a wide range of social classes from the local villagers to the aristocratic families of Leicestershire and its neighbouring counties, many of whom were fee-paying boarders. The School taught the three Rs to village boys; calligraphy and accountancy to aspiring clerks (Sir John had wide experience of the City of London); and Latin and Greek Classics to university candidates.
The author relates the problems faced in building the school and the personality clashes of those involved. Choosing the Governors and Masters, writing the Statutes (the original constitution) and all aspects of running the school over the years are described. Later developments include how the school adapted to national changes as the State took an increasing interest and role in education. By the end of the 19th century, there were effectively two schools in the same premises: a small Grammar School and an Elementary School for the village boys. The Grammar School was too small and in the wrong location to survive into the 20th century, but the Elementary School survived until 1933, when the junior schools of the village united in the old National School which had hitherto catered only for girls and infants.
The Sir John Moore School of today was founded by a new scheme of 1956 and the old building was reopened the following year. As a Church of England aided school, it inherits the Christian traditions of Sir John Moore’s school of 1697 and shares them with all the girls and boys of Appleby, together with some from the surrounding villages as Sir John originally intended.