List of headmasters of St. Bees School

School House, the residence of headmasters since 1886.

The list of headmasters of St. Bees School includes the men and one woman who have held the headmastership of St. Bees School in west Cumbria (formerly the county of Cumberland). Under the statutes drawn up by the school's founder, Archbishop Edmund Grindal, the headmaster of the school was chosen by the Provost of the Queen's College, Oxford.[1] This state of affairs lasted until 1879 when a "new scheme" came into place and the board of governors had a greater say in the appointment.[2]

In the early days of the school the headmaster was the sole master, his school being a one-story stone building (now the school's main dining room). In the nineteenth century, St. Bees School began to expand thanks to the proceeds from mineral royalties, legally won in part by the efforts of Headmaster William Wilson,[3] and in 1844 the headmaster moved into the newly built south wing of the "Quad", the quadrangle of sandstone buildings which makes up the main and oldest part of the school.[2] In 1886, a purpose built home was constructed called the "School House", part of which today serves as a senior boys' boarding house.[2]

List of headmasters at St. Bees School

Rev. H. A. P. Sawyer (Headmaster 1903–1916).
List of headmasters at St. Bees School since 1583
Years Name Alma mater References
1583–1593 Nicholas Copland, B.A. - [4]
1593–1612 William Briscoe, M.A. - [4]
1612–1630 William Lickbarrow, M.A. - [4]
1630–1679 Francis Radcliffe, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1679–1681 Bernard Gilpin, B.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1681–1686 Jonathan Banks, B.A. Pembroke College, Cambridge [4]
1686–1738 Rev. Richard Jackson, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1738–1755 Rev. Alan Fisher, B.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1755–1773 Rev. John James, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1773–1788 Rev. Robert Scott, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1788–1791 Rev. James Hutchinson, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1791–1811 Rev. John Barnes, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1811–1817 Rev. William Wilson, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1817–1830 Rev. Thomas Bradley, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1830–1841 Rev. John Fox, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1841–1854 Rev. Miles Atkinson, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1854–1879 Rev. George Henry Heslop, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1879–1903 Rev. William Taylor Newbold, M.A. St John's College, Cambridge [4]
1903–1916 Rev. Harold Athelstane Parry Sawyer, M.A. The Queen's College, Oxford [4]
1917–1926 Cecil William Kaye, M.A. University College, Oxford [4]
1926–1935 Edward Allen Bell, M.A. Christ Church, Oxford [4]
1935 (acting) Robert Branston Brown, M.A. Trinity Hall, Cambridge [4]
1936–1938 Howard George Charles Mallaby, M.A. Merton College, Oxford [4]
1938–1945 Rev. John Sidney Boulter, M.B.E., T.D., M.A. Keble College, Oxford [4]
1945–1946 C.G.S. Harden, M.A. St. John's College, Cambridge [5][6]
1946–1951 Henry Enfield Reekie Clare College, Cambridge [6]
1951–1963 James Cochrane Wykes, M.A. Clare College, Cambridge [7]
1963–1980 Geoffrey William Lees, M.A. Downing College, Cambridge [8]
1980–1988 Malcolm Tod Thyne, M.A. Clare College, Cambridge [9]
1988–1997 Paul Arthur Chamberlain, B.Sc. University of Durham [10]
1997 (acting) Philip James Etchells, B.Sc., Ph.D. University of Liverpool -
1998–2000 Janet Dolton Pickering, B.Sc. University of Sheffield [11]
2000–2012 Philip J. Capes, M.A. University of Exeter
2012–2015 James Davies University of Sheffield [12]
2017-2018 Jeremy Hallows University of Sheffield [13]
2018-2021 Gareth Seddon Université de Lyon II [14]
2021-2021 Roger Sinnett University of Cambridge [15]
2021-2024 Robin Silk University of Cambridge [16]
2024-Present Andrew Keep University of Exeter

Notes

  1. ^ The Story of St. Bees. p. 19.
  2. ^ a b c The Story of St. Bees. p. 26.
  3. ^ Todd, John The Headmaster, the Provost and the Earl: the Affair of the St. Bees School Mineral Lease, 1812–1817 Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Volume LXXXIII Kendal 1983 pp163-171 doi:10.5284/1061799
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x The Story of St. Bees. p. 47.
  5. ^ "St. Bees School". Official Appointments and Notices. The Times. No. 50216. London. 9 August 1945. col B, p. 7.
  6. ^ a b Reekie, Henry Enfield (2008). Who Was Who 1897–2007.
  7. ^ Who Was Who, Vol IX 1991–1995, p.613 year=2010
  8. ^ Lees, Geoffrey William (2008). Who Was Who 1897–2007.
  9. ^ Thyne, Malcolm Tod (2008). Who Was Who 1897–2007.
  10. ^ Chamberlain, Paul Arthur (2008). Who Was Who 1897–2007.
  11. ^ Pickering, Janet Dolton (2008). Who Was Who 1897–2007.
  12. ^ "New Head Appointment". The Old St. Beghian No.181. January 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  13. ^ "The New Headmaster". July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  14. ^ "From The New Headmaster". July 2018.
  15. ^ "St Bees School to see its fourth headteacher, following successful developments and new ventures". February 2021.
  16. ^ "West Cumbria school to welcome new headteacher". June 2021.

Bibliography

  • Special Committee, Old St. Beghians' Club (1939). The Story of St. Bees: 1583–1939. London: Buck & Wootton, Ltd.