Hi,
This may be of assistance to you:
A History Of The Academy And Montalbo Building
1818 - 1900
1818 Rev. William Bowman (Congregational Minister) founded
the Academy School in two houses facing The Green (later
these houses would accommodate St. Colettes School and
then the Doctor's Surgery (Dr. W. Neville).
1825 He sold the Hotel (Pub)
1848 He bought back the Hotel for £415.
The publican at that time was Jeremiah Whitfield.
At the same time Charles Tennick (a man of many trades)
bought the alleyway through to Back Lane.
1855 Rev. William Bowman died, he was succeeded by his son,
also named William and also a Minister.
He disposed of the Bay Horse Hotel.
1873 William Bowman reacquired the Bay Horse building
which by this time was a private dwelling and thereupon
built the present Academy building on the site.
The school was now a very successful concern. It owned cottages in Chapel Terrace and Back Lane
where masters and other staff were housed. It also had over six acres of playing fields.
Famous pupils included - Stan Laurel (real name Stanley Jefferson), Lord Joicey, J.M. Dent
(Publisher), M.P's Joseph Dodds, and Thomas McKnight. Many pupils gained scholarships to
Oxford, Cambridge and Durham Universities.
1883 Barnard Castle School opened and this brought about a
decline in enrolment at the Academy School, Gainford.
1893 William Bowman (Junior) died.
1899 Son Frederick Bowman moved the declining school to two
houses in North Terrace (No. 13 & 14) where it functioned
until the First World War period.
Charles Tennick (owner of the alleyway) purchased the
vacated property - advertised the present hall as
Coronation Hall (Edward VII - 1901) seating 300 people
for public assemblies.
Brian Blackburn
Part two of the history of The Academy and Montalbo Building
from 1905-1976 will be published next month in the July magazine.
Montalbo Rooms:
now Gainford Village Hall
Copy of an old poster dated 1868
promoting The Gainford Academy School
PRINCIPALS:
REV. W. BOWMAN,
J. SELKIRK CHARLES, B.A., LL.B. (LOND.).
SECOND MASTER:
MB. ALFRED G.,BOWMAN (University of Glasgow),
WITH AN EFFICIENT STAFF OF RESIDENT MASTERS.
The regular School Course provides instruction in ENGLISH,
FRENCH, and LATIN LANGUAGES and LITERATURE;in
MATHEMATICS, CHEMISTRY, and BOTANY (or some other
branch of NATURAL SCIENCE); and in DRAWlNG.
GERMAN may be taken instead of Latin. GREEK is taught
only to those reading for the Universities.
In the case of boys who are backward, special arrangements are
made for them to devote all their time to English subjects alone ( if
desired).
Pupils intended for Business or for Agricultural Pursuits have
special lessons, the former in Book-keeping, the latter in Land
Surveying and kindred subjects.
The CLASS ROOMS. are five in number, all well-ventilated and
fitted with the latest improvements.
There are Cricket and Croquet Grounds. a Fives Court, a
Reading Club, a Library, and Bath Rooms.
TERMS FOR BOARD AND TUITION:
PREPARATORY SCHOOOL 30 Guineas per Annum
MIDDLE SCHOOL 35 “ “
UPPER SCHOOL 40 “ “
WASHING 3 “ “
The above Terms are inclusive for Board and Tuition, the only
Extra being Instrumental Music .
A PROSPECTUS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SCHOOL
GAINFORD July 1868PARISH NEWS JULY 2006
Very best wishes to you
Tony