Copy of report on School premises at Old Malton by the Archdeacon of Cleveland 1847

Crayke Feb 9 1847

After the careful inspection which I made yesterday of the house adjoining the churchyard at Old Malton formerly occupied by the Master of Archbishop Holgate’s School and after perusing the Petition of certain inhabitants of Old Malton to his Grace the Archbishop of York, in which the petitioners profess to describe the state of the house & premises. I am prepared to state as the result of what I observed

1st That the House at Old Malton is a small but not inconvenient dwelling house, for a private family, containing two small sitting rooms, a small room used as a surgery, a good kitchen and a small one adjoining on the ground floor

On the first floor three good bedrooms, two dressing rooms of small size, & a sixth room not convenient for sleeping on account of its want of light & ventilation:- and two garrets or servants rooms in the roof - …. It appeared to be occupied by a respectable tenant & was in good repair. The main part of it appeared by a date on the outside to have been built in the year 1786, but there was a wing containing the large kitchen, which was said to be of later date.

2nd That the building used as a School by former Masters is situated in the churchyard at a short distance from the house and appears to have been built about the same time as the house there was nothing in any part of the building to indicate a greater antiquity, nor any thing by which I could learn whether the date of these buildings was the same with that mentioned by Archp Holgate in the … [a fold makes writing illegible] state, two of the windows being boarded up or stopped up and the third with the glass partly broken – as to its use as a School room it seemed large enough in area, but inconveniently low for such a purpose – it seems to me, as a portion of the premises belonging to the house the building should be kept in tenentable repair, the windows should be restored instead of being stopped up, and if not in use they should be protected with boards on the outside.

3rd – As to the main question whether this house and the premises are available for the object of Abp Holgate’s foundation I think any indifferent person would pronounce them as available, to be highly inconvenient – the house is large enough for a small private family, but plainly too small for the reception of Boarders – on the ground floor there is to be (?) that could be used as a day room for the Pupils, all being too small, above stairs a Master whom the sitting rooms appeared to be about fourteen feet square. Above stairs a Master who was himself a family man, could not ledge more than 4 or possibly 5

4th It may be said that the Master might enlarge the present house, so as to make it fit for the reception of day boarders or boarders to lodge in the house – But considering the small amount of the annual proceeds of the endowment as stated by the Petitioners, it cannot reasonably be expected that he should …[a fold makes writing illegible] confined nature of the premises & their situation (a slip of ground which adjoins the churchyard) allowing no space for a playground or any convenient room for the occupation of the Pupils out of doors, would have little ground for hope that the experiment would be successful.

5- Looking therefore as fairly as I can into the question and considering the interests and object of Abp Holgate’s foundation I do not hesitate to that in my judgement the late excellent Archdeacon exercised a sound discretion, when he recommended the Master after he had found by experience the inconvenience of these premises, to remove to another house in the immediate neighbourhood of Old Malton, where he might conduct a school such as the founder contemplated, on a larger scale with more efficiency. Had he removed to any inconvenient distance from the Parish of Old Malton, there would have been just ground for complaint: but the house which he now inhabits, besides being large & commodious in itself, and altogether well furnished and arranged for Scholastic purposes, appears to be as conveniently situated for the Parishioners of Old Malton, as almost any situation that could be chosen within the Parish. It appears to be little more than a mile distant from Old Malton Church yard – It is just far enough from the suburbs of Malton to be clear of the inconvenience of a school in a town while it is within easy access to the children of the inhabitants. In short it seems to me to be conveniently placed for Malton, Old or New, as the St. Peter’s School is for the people of York: and I think and indifferent person would pronounce the same opinion.

6. Lastly with regard to the legal question his Grace will be guided by a better opinion than mine, but it is obvious to remark past in the absence of any ancient building which can be identified with the "house" stated to be "founded" by Arbp Holgate in the deed of the foundation & since the lamentable alienation of the property of the School it seems very uncertain, whether the site of the original school can be determined. Supposing then that the present landed property of the Endowment does not furnish a suitable house, or site for a house, in which the intention of the founder can be effectually carried out, it would surely seem that the trust is best discharged by directing the Master to hire a house in the Parish, or conveniently near to the Parish, of Old Malton, suitable for the purpose of conducting a classical school, which may be of easy access to the inhabitants.

Edw. Churton
Archdeacon of Cleveland

Return to Estill papers index