The Sir John Moore Church of England School
Encyclopedia
Sir John Moore Church of England Primary School is a junior school situated in the village of Appleby Magna
, in Leicestershire
, England.
The school building dates from 1697, based on an original design by Sir Christopher Wren
, with financing from local land holder, Lord Mayor and Alderman of London, Sir John Moore. The building is Grade I listed.
(now demolished). Sir John Moore was second son of Charles Moore Esq., owner of Appleby Hall. As his elder brother, also called Charles, was expected to inherit the family estates, as second son, Sir John, was expected to make his own way in the world. Sir John, and all subsequent generations of younger sons, went to London to make a living as merchants. He made fortune in the City of London
, becoming Lord Mayor of London
in 1681 (during the reign of King Charles II) and eventually an Alderman
of London.
Moore had no children, and wishing to use his wealth to benefit his home village, he financed the building of a school next to his family estate.
Moore commissioned Wren
to prepare the initial drawings. After Wren's first design, the work was taken on by local architect Sir William Wilson who both studied under Wren at Oxford University and worked for his Company. It opened as a Free School for boys in 1697.
The school sits in its own walled, landscaped grounds totaling just over 3.5 acres (14,164 m²).
During the second World War
, the school was used to house Belgian evacuees (boys only). It is said that the flames of Coventry
after it was bombed
could be seen from the roof of the school.
In the mid 1990s the school was earmarked for closure. A new school building was planned in a neighbouring field and the building was to be surrendered to the National Trust but after much protest from the villagers the school remained open. It received a £6,000,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund
to complete the renovation of the whole building. The stables were converted into a computer suite and art gallery; the old dormitories were turned into a heritage centre and several old offices and storage rooms were converted into rented offices and apartments.
The building still operates as a primary school, with 125 students from the village. It was described as "outstanding" in its June 2009 Ofsted
inspection.
Sir John Moore School now also hosts many corporate events and weddings, and has a midsummer music festival complete with firework display. The old school basements have been converted into a pub called The Cellar.
Appleby Magna
Appleby Magna is a village and civil parish in the district of North West Leicestershire, England.The civil parish, as well as Appleby Magna, includes the small Hamlet of Appleby Parva and the Villages of Norton-Juxta-Twycross, Snarestone and Swepstone...
, in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England.
The school building dates from 1697, based on an original design by Sir Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
, with financing from local land holder, Lord Mayor and Alderman of London, Sir John Moore. The building is Grade I listed.
Sir John Moore
The Moore family owned the manor house at Appleby ParvaAppleby Parva
Appleby Parva, or Little Appleby , part of the parish of Appleby Magna in Leicestershire, is a hamlet about a mile south of Appleby church at the crossroads of the highways from Ashby de la Zouch to Tamworth and from Atherstone to Burton upon Trent.The village was also calculated to be the centre...
(now demolished). Sir John Moore was second son of Charles Moore Esq., owner of Appleby Hall. As his elder brother, also called Charles, was expected to inherit the family estates, as second son, Sir John, was expected to make his own way in the world. Sir John, and all subsequent generations of younger sons, went to London to make a living as merchants. He made fortune in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, becoming Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
in 1681 (during the reign of King Charles II) and eventually an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of London.
Moore had no children, and wishing to use his wealth to benefit his home village, he financed the building of a school next to his family estate.
Moore commissioned Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
to prepare the initial drawings. After Wren's first design, the work was taken on by local architect Sir William Wilson who both studied under Wren at Oxford University and worked for his Company. It opened as a Free School for boys in 1697.
The school sits in its own walled, landscaped grounds totaling just over 3.5 acres (14,164 m²).
The school
For most of its existence the school was known as Appleby Grammar School and operated as a free school for the boys of the village as well as a boys' boarding school. The name was changed to Sir John Moore Church Of England School some time in the last century; it was also in the last century that the school started to accept girls.During the second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the school was used to house Belgian evacuees (boys only). It is said that the flames of Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
after it was bombed
Coventry Blitz
The Coventry blitz was a series of bombing raids that took place in the English city of Coventry. The city was bombed many times during the Second World War by the German Air Force...
could be seen from the roof of the school.
In the mid 1990s the school was earmarked for closure. A new school building was planned in a neighbouring field and the building was to be surrendered to the National Trust but after much protest from the villagers the school remained open. It received a £6,000,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
to complete the renovation of the whole building. The stables were converted into a computer suite and art gallery; the old dormitories were turned into a heritage centre and several old offices and storage rooms were converted into rented offices and apartments.
The building still operates as a primary school, with 125 students from the village. It was described as "outstanding" in its June 2009 Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
inspection.
Sir John Moore School now also hosts many corporate events and weddings, and has a midsummer music festival complete with firework display. The old school basements have been converted into a pub called The Cellar.
Famous pupils
- Appleby's most famous pupil is probably William HuskissonWilliam HuskissonWilliam Huskisson PC was a British statesman, financier, and Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Liverpool...
, well known as being the first man to die in a railway accident when he was knocked down by Stephenson's RocketStephenson's RocketStephenson's Rocket was an early steam locomotive of 0-2-2 wheel arrangement, built in Newcastle Upon Tyne at the Forth Street Works of Robert Stephenson and Company in 1829.- Design innovations :...
at the opening of the Liverpool-Manchester railway. He was a Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in Liverpool at the time. - Edward Plant an upcoming DJ who has made a break-through in Dubstep music.
- Appleby schoolboy Robert Madge has enjoyed West End stage success in productions such as Mary Poppins and Oliver!, playing the Artful Dodger in the latter until late 2009.