On This Day, 13 March 1917

Birmingham Daily Gazette

Tuesday 13 March 1917

ANCIENT BUILDING IN DANGER.

 FAMOUS BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL DAMAGED

 OUTBREAK OF FIRE.

Considerable damage was done to one of the oldest schools in the Midlands—King Edward’s Grammar School, New-street, Birmingham—by fire which occurred last night.

The fire had been smouldering for some time before flames made their appearance. At eight o’clock the manageress of the adjacent Hen and Chickens Temperance Hotel ordered a search of the hotel premises in consequence of the smell of burning wood having pervaded several rooms. Just before eleven o’clock the servants noticed flames in the top portion of the school, and telephoned for the police. About the same time Mr. Ford, the caretaker, suspected that some firelighters in the basement had become ignited, but later discovered that fire had broken out in the boys department.

Four machines from the Central Station, two from Albion-street, and one from Aston were quickly at the scene. By this time, however, a good part of the building was well alight, and the glow could seen in the sky for considerable distance. There was a plentiful supply of water from the mains. Several jets were got to work, and by shortly after one o’clock the fire had been extinguished. Four members of the brigade were left in charge. As the flames were confined to top portion of the building it was not considered necessary to remove from the governors’ room the priceless licence granted Richard II in 1382 and the Charter granted to the school by Edward VI in 1552.

The licence from Richard II granted was for a chantry be founded in St. Martin’s, the parish church, but in 1392, the petition of the townsmen, the Guild of the Holy Cross was founded in substitution for the chantry. This Guild remained in existence for 150 years, and was then involved in the common confiscation of monasteries and chantries. The school was founded Edward the Sixth in 1552. The first building (which had originally been the Hall of the Guild of the Holy Cross) was taken down in 1707, and another erected.

This falling into decay the Governors in 1830 obtained an Act of Parliament to rebuild the school. The present building in New-street, was erected from the plans of Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the now Palace at Westminster. There are many distinguished names on the roll of pupils, among them being Archbishop Benson, Bishop Lightfoot, Bishop Westcott, and Sir Edward Burne- Jones.