Thetford Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Thetford Grammar School is an independent co-educational school in Thetford
, Norfolk
, England. The school traces its origins back to 631, and through its Roll of Headmasters to 1114, though it appears to have ceased from around 1496 until its refoundation from the will of Sir Richard Fulmerston in 1566. The refoundation was confirmed by an Act of Parliament in 1610. Part of the school is built on the site of a thirteenth century Dominican Friary, which was built on, and incorporated parts of, the Norman cathedral. This building, now known as "Old School", comprised the entire school for about 300 years, and is where Roger North and Thomas Paine were educated.
The school developed rapidly in the 1880s, and in 1888 Thetford Grammar School for Girls was built alongside the existing Grammar School. The school became a Voluntary controlled school
in 1944, and remained in the state sector until 1981 when it regained its independent status.
Thetford
Thetford is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just south of Thetford Forest. The civil parish, covering an area of , has a population of 21,588.-History:...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England. The school traces its origins back to 631, and through its Roll of Headmasters to 1114, though it appears to have ceased from around 1496 until its refoundation from the will of Sir Richard Fulmerston in 1566. The refoundation was confirmed by an Act of Parliament in 1610. Part of the school is built on the site of a thirteenth century Dominican Friary, which was built on, and incorporated parts of, the Norman cathedral. This building, now known as "Old School", comprised the entire school for about 300 years, and is where Roger North and Thomas Paine were educated.
The school developed rapidly in the 1880s, and in 1888 Thetford Grammar School for Girls was built alongside the existing Grammar School. The school became a Voluntary controlled school
Voluntary controlled school
A voluntary controlled school is a state-funded school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in which a foundation or trust has some formal influence in the running of the school...
in 1944, and remained in the state sector until 1981 when it regained its independent status.
Notable former pupils
- Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of NorfolkThomas Howard, 2nd Duke of NorfolkThomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, KG, Earl Marshal , styled Earl of Surrey from 1483 to 1514, was the only son of John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk by his first wife, Katherine Moleyns...
- Thomas PaineThomas PaineThomas "Tom" Paine was an English author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States...
, author and revolutionary, attended 1744-1749 - Francis BlomefieldFrancis BlomefieldFrancis Blomefield was an English antiquary, who projected a county history of Norfolk. During his lifetime, he compiled and published detailed accounts of the city of Norwich, Borough of Thetford and the southern hundreds of the county, but died before the whole work could be completed.-Biography...
, topographer and historian - Roger NorthRoger North (17th century)Roger North, KC , English lawyer, biographer, and amateur musician, was the sixth son of t he fourth Baron North....
, musicologist, Attorney General from 1688 - Frederick Charles FrankFrederick Charles FrankSir Frederick Charles Frank FRS was a British theoretical physicist.He was born in Durban, South Africa, although his parents returned to England soon afterwards...
, theoretical physicist