EARLY HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL

It was in 1889 that Lydney Institute was founded and classes were held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall which had been built in 1887 on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. The first President was Sir W. H. Marling and the Hon. Sec. was Mr. Richard Beaumont Thomas. Art and Technical classes were held by Mr. Howard Howells assisted by Mr. A. J. Smith and were designed chiefly for teachers in Primary Schools.

In 1896 Sir W. H. Marling chaired a public meeting at which it was unanimously decided to provide separate accommodation for Lydney Institute and for an Art School, and to this end part of the stone building was built. This establishment was recognised by Glos. C. C. as a ‘Centre for the Instruction of Elementary School Teachers' from all parts of the Forest of Dean and provision was made for part payment of travelling expenses of those attending.

A very successful exhibition, sponsored by Mr. Charles Bathurst, Jnr., and Mr. Richard Beaumont Thomas, was held in the Town Hall in 1897 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. This and the existing Art and Science classes encouraged a group of public-spirited men in 1902 to form a ‘Forest of Dean Education and Lydney Institute Committee' to promote the cause of further education.

The officers were:

President: Sir W. H Marling;
Vice President: Mr. Charles Bathurst, J.P.;

Hon. Sec: Mr. Richard Beaumont Thomas;

Hon. Treas: Mr. C. S. Freeman.

Art classes were still held by Mr. Howard Howells and Science classes by Mr. Frank Dixon, B.Sc.

Towards the end of 1902, it was decided to form a Secondary School using the Institute building as a temporary measure to provide a good modern education of ‘a commercial type'. The first boy admitted was Horace Howells (son of the Art master) and the first girl was Evelyn Woodruffe. The fees were £6 per annum and the total income of £264 had to provide salary for staff and books and stationery for the pupils.

Here is the list of names and School Numbers as recorded by the Headmaster:

1. Horace Howard Howells
2. Evelyn Ellen Woodruffe
3. Frank Freeman
4. Charles Freeman
5. Rowland Stanley Watts
6. Ruth Maine
7. Anne Style
8. Cuthbert Downes
9. Helen Fewings
10. Grace Pritchard
11. Emmie Workman
12. Percy St. John
13. Dorothy Jones
14. Kathleen Jones
15. Maurice Jarrett
16. William Jones
17 Clifton L Morse
18. Percy Maine
19 Percy Grey
20. Albert H. Hyett
21 Ralph Hyett Beard
22. Stephen Victor Maine
23. Alfred Leslie Howells
24. Frederick W. Mullan
25. Lionel Jenkins
26. Arthur Snell
27 Cyril Haile
28. Russell Williams
29. Stanley Jarrett.
30. John Collins
31. William Harold Goold
32. Albert John Goold
33 Robert Washbourn Thomas
34. Jacob Schmidt Powell
35. Thomas Saunders
36. Graham Morse
37. Walter Waite
38. Evan Rosser Gilham
39. Fitz Albert Ballinger
40. Elsie Madeline Howells
41. Dulcie Morse
42. Fanny Wintle
43 Nellie Griffiths
44 Mabel Jones

By the end of 1903 there were 74 pupils and this number increased to 139 by 1905, when the following letter was circulated appealing for contributions towards building a Secondary School.

(R.A.J. Bell and H.T. Pitt)

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