Sir Thomas Rich's school - prefab classrooms

Image: © HelenK Taken: 3 Nov 2014

Many of us were taught in prefabricated classrooms such as these. 'Sir Thomas Rich was born in Gloucester in 1601 as the entry in the Baptismal Register of St John's, Northgate shows. He was sent to school in London and after studying at the newly founded Wadham College, Oxford, worked in the city of London in the wine importing trade. He bought the manor of Sonning, near Reading, and become MP for Reading. He was created a baronet by Charles II. In his will of 1666 he left his Gloucester house in Eastgate and £6000 to establish a school in Gloucester for twenty poor boys. The money was mainly invested in farm land and the rent was to pay for the running of the school. The school was opened in 1668 one year after Sir Thomas Rich's death. He was buried in the parish church at Sonning and his ornate tomb may be seen under the church tower. The school, known as the Blue Coat Hospital, was to be run on the lines of Christ's Hospital and a master and matron were appointed to teach and care for the boys.' https://strschool.co.uk/about/history It moved to this site in 1964.

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