Animated discussions

The Bideford Town Council resolved that in consequence of no boys being allowed to attend the Bideford Grammar School on the foundation, according to the terms of the endowment, the Charity Commissioners should be informed of the facts, with a view to an inquiry into the subject.

Western Morning News, 2 May 1871

Bideford Town Council meeting - It was reported that no reply had yet been received from the trustees of the Bideford Grammar School in reference to the misappropriation of the endowment, which led to strong expressions of dissatisfaction, and the Clerk was requested to give his opinion at the next meeting as to the best steps to be taken to compel the trustees to administer the charity in accordance with the wish of the donors.

The North Devon Journal – August 10, 1871

A meeting was held, pursuant to adjournment when, in the absence of the Mayor, Mr Alderman White and Councillors Heard, Tremear, White, Down and Pollard. The Clerk having reported that the Council could not initiate proceedings against the Trustees of the Bideford Grammar School without first obtaining the sanction of the Charity Commissioners, it was unanimously resolved that he make application to them for permission to take proceedings in Chancery, the Trustees have appropriated the endowment to purposes other than those intended by the donors, in consequence of which there are now no free boys in the school.

The Bideford Weekly Gazette – September 5, 1871

The Town Council and Local Board – On Monday the Town Council held an adjourned meeting, Mr Alderman White presiding, when the alleged misappropriation of the Grammar School Endowment again formed the subject of a discussion, and the Clerk was requested to obtain a copy of the will and other documents having reference to the endowment and it appropriation.

North Devon Advertiser 6 October 1871

The misappropriation of the endowment fund of this institution, which is now occupying the attention of the Town Council, is an injustice with which the inhabitants of the town are becoming more and more dissatisfied.

The school was designed for the special benefit of the sons of tradesmen resident in the town of Bideford, many of whom have derived considerable benefit from it by receiving from able and accomplished masters, free of cost, a liberal education. But for several years no foundation scholars have been admitted to the school, the fund having been appropriated to the education of gentlemen’s sons at a cheaper rate than that for which they could otherwise by received. It is said that as this reduced tariff of charges for education and the conversion of the school into a college is likely to induce the parents of pupils to become residents in the neighbourhood, the tradesmen of the town for whose benefit the school was founded ought to be satisfied, seeing that they have a compensating advantage in the impetus which an influx of visitors must necessarily give to trade. It is also said that this change was desirable, if not absolutely necessary, inasmuch as under the old regime former masters experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining boarders – a privilege allowed them by the trustees – in consequence of persons not of the tradesmen class, but who ought to know better, refusing on the ground of superiority to have their sons educated with tradesmen’s sons – a state of things which unfortunately still exists in and about all small towns, notwithstanding our boasted civilians. But this the persons for whom the school was originally intended are not responsible for an cannot help, and it certainly cannot justify the appropriation of the endowment fund to purposes other than those intended by the benefactors. At any rate such an explanation cannot be regarded as satisfactory by the inhabitants of Bideford.

We are therefore pleased to find that the Town Council are determined at whatever cost to endeavour to have the endowment fund appropriated to its legitimate use, and can only hope that their efforts will be successful. Last year a tradesman of Bideford, dissatisfied with the absence of foundation scholars from the school, wrote the Charity Commissioners upon the subject, in the hope that some better explanation than that which could be obtained from the trustees would be given. The reply, of which the following is a copy, has just been forwarded to us, but is far from satisfactory, in fact nothing short of the appropriation of the endowment fund to the uses intended by the donors will satisfy the town:

Bideford Weekly Gazette – October 31, 1871

The misappropriation of the trust fund by the trustees of the Grammar School drew out a warm and animated discussion. The required documents in reference to the matter were produced. Ultimately a Committee was appointed to go into the subject, with a view to its settlement.

The North Devon Journal – November 23, 1871

The Grammar School Endowment – At a largely attended meeting of the Town Council, the Mayor (Mr How) presiding, Mr J G Fitch, an assistant-commissioner connected with the Endowed Schools Commission, held an inquiry into the circumstances attending the alleged misappropriation of the Grammar School endowment. He had met the Trustees of the school, and was now desirous of ascertaining the views and objections of the Council respecting the non-admission of free boys. It appeared that the admission of foundation scholars had hitherto been subject to special arrangement with the masters at the time of their appointment, and that no legal right could be claimed in that respect. But it was urged by the Council that as the endowment money had been raised principally by the tradesmen and inhabitants of the town, the tradesmen had a right to expect certain advantages for their sons. Pointing out the difficulty in dealing with a fund which amounted to about £80 per annum, with no school building, the Commissioner recommended the establishment of a school to meet the requirements of the town and neighbourhood, and the mutual cooperation of the Trustees and Council in the matter, adding that it would be advisable to remodel the Trust by the infusion of new blood. After eliciting the opinions of the Council, Mr Fitch intimated that a new scheme would be suggested to the Commissioners, and that both the Trustees and Council would be communicated with when such scheme has been considered. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Mr Martyn White, a cordial vote of thanks was accorded to the Assistant-Commissioner for the satisfactory manner in which he had dealt with the matter under consideration.

The Western Times; Exeter, January 30, 1872

The Endowed School Commissioners have prepared and published a “Draft Scheme for the management of the foundation called ‘The Grammar School.’ at Bideford in the County of Devon.” As the subject is one of great importance to the town and neighourhood, we publish the principal sections in full, but simply indicate the nature of those of minor importance.

North Devon Journal, 13 February 1873

Most of our readers will remember the question was raised some time ago as to what became of the moneys that had been left at different times for the education of a certain number of boys free at our Bideford Grammar School, and great dissatisfaction was felt when it was discovered that no boys were receiving free tuition from the above grants, but that sons of certain feoffees of the Long Bridge and Town Council were being education at the Bideford College on a reduced scale on account of the grant being handed over to the head master of that college; and as it was thought by…

North Devon Journal – September 4, 1873