Annadale Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Annadale Grammar School for Boys was an all-boys school located on the Annadale Embankment skirting the River Lagan in south Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. In 1990, Annadale Grammar School (all boys) amalgamated with Carolan Grammar School (all girls) and became known as Wellington College Belfast
.
, mother of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
. Wellington's grandfather, Arthur Hill, 1st Viscount Dungannon, lived at Belvoir Estate near Knockbreda and married Anne Stafford in 1737. They bore 3 children, a boy and 2 girls. Their eldest daughter, Anne, married Garret Wellesley, 1st Earl of Mornington and herself bore 2 sons and a daughter - Penelope Prudence, Richard
and Arthur, Duke of Wellington. The site on which the school was built was originally known as Anna's Dale, a name referred to in letters from the Duke to his mother which are now held by the school. The school also possesses an oil painting of the area as it was at the time of Wellington and reputedly shows the famous Molly Ward's Tavern; an important meeting place during the time of the United Irishmen.
" which is associated with the Duke of Wellington's coats of arms. Until its amalgamation in 2006 the cockatrice provided the Regimental capbadge of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment
. It remains on the capbadge of the contemporary Yorkshire Regiment
.
The school motto was "Virtus Fortunae Comes" meaning "Fortune Favours the Brave" - Wellington's motto.
The school song was De Brevitate Vitae (On the Shortness of Life), perhaps more commonly known by its first words Gaudeamus Igitur (Let Us Therefore Rejoice). This is a very old and popular academic song in many European countries.
The 4 school houses were named after World War 2 Irish Generals: Alexander; Alanbrooke; Dill
; Montgomery.
In the mid 1960s, Annadale experimented with the structure of its sixth and upper sixth forms primarily through a reduction of externally imposed structure and discipline - much like a university environment. As a consequence, Annadale students adjusted quickly on arrival at university and typically excelled at the honours level at universities throughout the UK.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. In 1990, Annadale Grammar School (all boys) amalgamated with Carolan Grammar School (all girls) and became known as Wellington College Belfast
Wellington College Belfast
Wellington College Belfast is a co-educational grammar school located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The current principal is Mr Matthew Pitts. The school was formed when, in 1990, the all-boys' Annadale Grammar School and the all-girls' Carolan Grammar School merged to become a single...
.
Name
The name "Annadale" originated from Anne HillAnne Hill
Anne Hill is the most prominent hill on Radian Ridge in the Royal Society Range of Victoria Land. It rises to at the east side of Lava Tongue Pass. It was named after Anne C...
, mother of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
. Wellington's grandfather, Arthur Hill, 1st Viscount Dungannon, lived at Belvoir Estate near Knockbreda and married Anne Stafford in 1737. They bore 3 children, a boy and 2 girls. Their eldest daughter, Anne, married Garret Wellesley, 1st Earl of Mornington and herself bore 2 sons and a daughter - Penelope Prudence, Richard
Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
Richard Colley Wesley, later Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, KG, PC, PC , styled Viscount Wellesley from birth until 1781, was an Anglo-Irish politician and colonial administrator....
and Arthur, Duke of Wellington. The site on which the school was built was originally known as Anna's Dale, a name referred to in letters from the Duke to his mother which are now held by the school. The school also possesses an oil painting of the area as it was at the time of Wellington and reputedly shows the famous Molly Ward's Tavern; an important meeting place during the time of the United Irishmen.
Badge
Annadale Grammar School colours were red, black and white. The school badge, worn on the breast pocket of the black school blazer, was the "cockatriceCockatrice
A cockatrice is a legendary creature, essentially a two-legged dragon with a rooster's head. "An ornament in the drama and poetry of the Elizabethans", Laurence Breiner described it...
" which is associated with the Duke of Wellington's coats of arms. Until its amalgamation in 2006 the cockatrice provided the Regimental capbadge of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment
Duke of Wellington's Regiment
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
. It remains on the capbadge of the contemporary Yorkshire Regiment
Yorkshire Regiment
The Yorkshire Regiment is one of the largest infantry regiments of the British Army. The regiment is currently the only line infantry or rifles unit to represent a single geographical county in the new infantry structure, serving as the county regiment of Yorkshire covering the historical areas...
.
The school motto was "Virtus Fortunae Comes" meaning "Fortune Favours the Brave" - Wellington's motto.
The school song was De Brevitate Vitae (On the Shortness of Life), perhaps more commonly known by its first words Gaudeamus Igitur (Let Us Therefore Rejoice). This is a very old and popular academic song in many European countries.
The 4 school houses were named after World War 2 Irish Generals: Alexander; Alanbrooke; Dill
John Dill
Field Marshal Sir John Greer Dill, GCB, CMG, DSO was a British commander in World War I and World War II. From May 1940 to December 1941 he was the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, and subsequently in Washington, as Chief of the British Joint Staff...
; Montgomery.
Course work
Annadale was distinctive among grammar schools of its era in Northern Ireland in that it offered classes in woodwork and metal work, possibly reflecting that it attracted a relatively large proportion of boys from working class families in south Belfast. Admission to Annadale required passing the eleven plus exam, and was a mixed blessing for some families who may have needed their sons to become wage earners by age 16. Instead those parents incurred the expense of wool blazers, grey slacks, the school cap, socks and black shoes - not to mention the sports apparel and kit for rugby, hockey, athletics, tennis and cricket. Worse still for those parents, a high proportion of Annadale graduates went on to university, delaying further their arrival as wage earners in the workforce. The sacrifices notwithstanding, many former Annadale students were the first in their families to graduate from University.In the mid 1960s, Annadale experimented with the structure of its sixth and upper sixth forms primarily through a reduction of externally imposed structure and discipline - much like a university environment. As a consequence, Annadale students adjusted quickly on arrival at university and typically excelled at the honours level at universities throughout the UK.