As a new academic year begins, we delve into the archives to share a story of a bad choice for one school in eighteenth-century Christchurch!
The Free School, Christchurch
In 1772 a Robert Barrett saw an advert in “the Publick Newspapers” for the position of Master at the Free School in Christchurch.
Interested parties were to apply to Joseph Gibbs Esq. Mayor.
At this time Robert Barrett was an Assistant Master at Mr Huntley’s school in Burford, Oxfordshire.
He received a reply from Mr Joseph Gibb, the then Mayor of Christchurch, outlining the situation.
Sir Christchurch August 8th 1772
In answer to your letter relative to the School here and in answer to your questions there is no School House for the Master to live in but an excellent School Room part of the Church commanding a fine prospect of the Sea and Isle of Wight the number of free boys 25 probabily not one of them might learn Greek or Latin but that is just as it happens no personal application is necessary in all likelyhood there will a great many day scholars no doubt of boarders and when a Master is properly settled in my opinion here will be a very considerable school.
You’l please to send your Testimonials as soon as possible when I shall lay them before the corporation with the rest of the candidates and will be determined in a Month at most. I wish you success & am Sir
Your very humble servant
Jo Gibb
PS we have a Subscription on foot for the better encouragement of the master
They did not feel it necessary to interview him or meet him before offering Mr Barrett the position of Master of the Christchurch Free School. He received the sum of £50 per annum (approximately £8,621 at today’s values). £50 was enough to buy 10 cows or 30 quarters of wheat in 1772. Mr Barrett moved from Burford and arrived in Christchurch on October 17th 1772, starting teaching at the school on the 19th.
However, all was not as it seemed with Mr Barrett! He was soon seen frequenting alehouses, or ‘tippling’ in the language of the time. What made this worse was that Mr Barrett was doing this when he should have been in charge of his pupils! A certain George Lockyer stated that he often admonished Mr Barrett on his behaviour, pointing out that he would find himself in trouble if he did not attend to the school. He went on to say that, Mr Barrett spent barely half of his time in the school.
Eventually Robert Barrett was summoned to a meeting of the Corporation where he was accused of being
“…an immoral man, that he had introduced and cohabited with a woman as his wife who appeared to be the wife of another man, and that he was a lyer and a drunkard…”
When Mr Barrett moved to Christchurch he came with a woman (who was never named) he claimed was his wife. The truth came out when the, no doubt horrified yet attentive, townsfolk witnessed an on the street altercation between Robert and his “wife.” She subsequently left him with a third man named Bullock – a man that Barrett had employed as his assistant teacher.
Robert Barrett was asked to leave less than a year after starting the job. He alleged wrongful dismissal by Christchurch Corporation and tried to make the case for his re-instatement as schoolmaster. The statements from himself and others involved are what have survived in our collection.
What of the pupils? The new master (who happened to be the son-in-law of the new Mayor) and his assistant reported that they had never had such a backward group of scholars. As for the boys themselves, they may not have learnt much academically but they undoubtedly learnt much about life!
This story can be found in the Christchurch Borough Records, DC-CC/G/2, a most absorbing and diverting set of records!
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We hope a much smoother start to the term for all Dorset schools! If you are a teacher or home educator you may be interested in the learning resources available on our website: Education and learning – Dorset Council. A particular favourite is the Indian adventure which follows the exciting travels of Captain Robert Carter Oakley as recorded in his journals.