Rishworth School

In 1724, John Wheelwright of Goathouse, Rishworth provided a sum of £150 for the building of a school at Rishworth for the education of 20 boys and girls, children of the poorest tenants and workers on his estate. There had to be more boys than girls. The children were to be chosen by the Trustees from amongst the poorer tenants living on any of Wheelwright's estates, or failing that, from the poor of the parish.

He also bequeathed a yearly sum of £40 to a schoolmaster, sufficiently skilled in the Latin and Greek languages, and of sound principles according to the doctrine of the Church of England.

In 1725, a grammar school was built for the purpose. It was constructed by day work, at a time when a horse & man cost 2/- per day.

The builder was possibly William Mellor.

A stone tablet bears a Latin inscription

It is a name that will always be held in honour and worthy of praise

Wheelwright left his home, Goat House to be used as accommodation for the pupils, the teachers and a matron. He also provided for one master to teach reading and writing, and one master to teach Latin and Greek.

£5 was left for each boy to take up an apprenticeship at the age of 16, and for one able boy to go to Oxford or Cambridge for university education at the age of 18.

Whenever possible, there was to be a managing trustee named Wheelwright on the board of trustees.

In 1773, £2 1/4d was paid for (what was probably the first) bell.

The new School was designed by John Oates and built in 1827. The arrangements for laying the foundation stone of the new School were made at The House of Carver.

In 1843, there were 70 pupils at the School

In 1921, it became a boys only School. In 1968, girls were again admitted.

There were additions in 1930 and 1933.

In 1950, nearby Heathfield Mansion was acquired as a junior School.

Rishworth School swimming bath – aka the Fred Bentley Bath – opened in 1964.

The old School is used as the chapel for the new School.

Headmasters at the school have included

• 1753: Richard Learoyd
• 1803: Rev Pattison
• 1834: Rev Ralph Younger
• 1856: Rev David Bellamy
• 1878-1919: Richard Henry Elliot
• 1946: Rev Cecil Edward Beechey Kingsford

Other masters have included

• Rev Percy Francis Atherton
• William Edwin Carter
• James Cockcroft
• Stephen Earnshaw
• Harry Maslen
• Robert Parkinson
• Rev Matthew Pugh
• Ignace Felix de Rutkowski

Pupils at the School have included

Joseph Eric Banks Harry Bastide William Henry Boocock Thomas Reginald Bottomley Scipio Brook John Taylor Carter Dennis Collins Percival John Craven Theo Crutchley-Mack Thomas Frost Dalzell Jack Danby William Henry Dinsdale Joseph Edwards Geoffrey Edmund Elliott Geoffrey Conneau Emmett William Henry Gibson William Henry Gibson Edward Cecil Haley Ian Charles Hannam David Hanson Harold Hanson Herbert Hodgson John Mennon Hogg Edmund Holt Joseph Hoyle Samuel Hoyle James Kershaw John Kershaw Dr Frank King Edward Cyril Kingsford Arthur Haddon Kippax Richard Learoyd Harold George William Lewis Harry Ludlam Francis Edwin Lumb Samuel Lumb Samuel Peter Hopkinson Lumb Norrie Warden Marshall John Henry Murgatroyd Reginald Lewis Newell Arthur Pickles Frederick Pohlmann Edward Ernest Pollit Eric Bottomley Rayner Donald Sagar John Ewart Shillito Phyllis Sykes Shillito Charles William Swaine Michael Thomas Gordon Stafford Wade Herbert Wainhouse Joseph Cyril Walton John Hoyle Wheelwright Benjamin Eric Whiteley Sidney Wilson

See Mrs Elizabeth Bradley, Heathfield School, Rishworth, Harry Ludlam, Mr Masten, Old Rishworthians' RUFC, John Selwyn Rawson, Rishworth School: War Memorials and Rishworth School Chapel

Page Ref: QQ_42

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