Dr Thomas Rowley was a successful headmaster of Bridgnorth Grammar School

Bridgnorth endowed school

Bridgnorth Endowed School is a co-educational secondary school in the market town of Bridgnorth in the rural county of Shropshire, England, founded in 1503. The Endowed School is a state school and is a specialist Technology College. The age range of the School is 11–18 years.The school celebrated...

 between 1821 and 1850.

Early life

Thomas Rowley was born in Middleton Scriven in Shropshire

Shropshire

Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...

. He studied at Christ Church College, Oxford.

Bridgnorth Grammar School

In 1821, when Rowley was twenty-four years old, he was appointed Headmster of Bridgnorth Grammar School in Bridgnorth

Bridgnorth

Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...

, Shropshire

Shropshire

Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...

, on the recommendation of the Dean of Christ Church College, Oxford. Under Dr Rowley's leadership Bridgnorth Grammar School's reputation increased. Dr Rowley's success as a teacher of the Classics soon attracted boarders (housed in the Headmaster's House in St Leonard's Close) from far and near. His pupils included not only Bridgnorth boys, but also those from further afield. The numbers rose to about 150. In 1841 Dr Rowley was attacked by some members of the Town Council who complained of the treatment of the day-boys by the boarders and of the Bridgnorth Grammar School's concentration on the Classics; but the Bridgnorth Borough Treasurer wrote in Rowley's defence that the day-boys can hardly not have benefited from the specialist teachers whom Rowley was able to engage.

Distinguished former pupils of Dr Rowley included Bishop James Fraser, the reforming Bishop of Manchester, Lord Lingen, the influential civil servant, Henry John Roby

Henry John Roby

Henry John Roby , was an English classical scholar and writer on Roman law, and a Liberal Member of Parliament.-Early life and Cambridge:...

, the classical scholar, writer on Roman law and Member of Parliament, Rev. Robert William Eyton

Robert William Eyton

-Life and career:Robert William Eyton was born in 1815. He was the son of Reverend John Eyton. He was educated at Bridgnorth Grammar School in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Eyton then went up to Christ Church College, Oxford. He went on to become the Rector at Ryton, Shropshire. He married Mary Watts in...

, Rector of Ryton and author of The Antiquities of Shropshire. and Rev. Osborne Gordon

Osborne Gordon

Osborne Gordon was an influential Oxford college tutor and Church of England Clergyman.- Life :Osborne Gordon was born in Broseley, Shropshire. He was educated at Bridgnorth Grammar School and Christ Church College, Oxford University. He served as proctor, censor at Christ Church and University...

, the influential Oxford don.

Dr Rowley's successors after 1850 had not his ability, and accordingly the School's numbers and reputation, and their own emoluments, declined. The East Window of the St Leonard's Church

St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth

St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth, is a redundant Anglican church in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.-History:...

 in Bridgnorth

Bridgnorth

Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...

 was replaced in memory of Dr Rowley. Rowley House (red), one of the Bridgnorth Endowed School

Bridgnorth endowed school

Bridgnorth Endowed School is a co-educational secondary school in the market town of Bridgnorth in the rural county of Shropshire, England, founded in 1503. The Endowed School is a state school and is a specialist Technology College. The age range of the School is 11–18 years.The school celebrated...

's three houses, is named after Dr Rowley.

Later life

Rowley bought land from the Canterbury Association

Canterbury Association

The Canterbury Association was formed in order to establish a colony in what is now the Canterbury Region in the South Island of New Zealand.- Formation of the Association :...

 in Canterbury, New Zealand. He was assigned land at Barrys Bay at the head of Akaroa Harbour. He was chosen as the dean designate for ChristChurch Cathedral, but he never came out to the colony.

Family

Rowley's sons John Cotton Rowley and Thomas Rowley

Thomas Rowley (politician)

Thomas Rowley was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand.He represented the Ellesmere electorate from 1861 to 1862, when he resigned.-References:...

 emigrated to New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. Thomas, who emigrated in 1853, became a Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand

The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...

, but returned to live in Guernsey

Guernsey

Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...

. John remained in New Zealand.