Rev William Langley

The Rev William Langley was the Head Master of The Old Grammar School for nearly 43 years in the late 1700s.

'no more than 2 children were allowed per bed'.

The Rev William Langley was the Master (Head) for nearly 43 years in the late 1700s.  He was frequently at war with the School Governors and his Undermaster; one resigned because he was “wearied by the repeated ill-usages of the Headmaster”.  The Head was allowed to take in fee paying pupils in addition to the free scholarship students.  Langley refused to teach free scholars, preferring to concentrate on his fee paying students.  In 1794, Langley was reported to the Bishop of Lichfield as the number of free scholars had reduced to one.  When Langley died in 1795, the Governors bought in a new set of rules: fee paying students were limited to 20 for the Master and 10 for the Undermaster, and no more than 2 children were allowed per bed.

Queen Elizabeth I signed a charter for a Grammar School in 1585. The school opened in 1603 with a central schoolroom on the ground floor, a dormitory above and houses for the headmaster and his assistant either side.

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Local tradition is that there are 2 ghosts associated with the Old Grammar School.

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