History Truro Cathedral School

truro cathedral, nave of former st mary s church visible on near side

in 1767, rev. st john eliot, former rector of truro, founded 2 exhibitions tenable @ exeter college, oxford, worth £30 year each, preference given boys school. in 1818 carlisle reported on previous ten years number of scholars had been fifty , that

the school venerable structure, 42 feet in length 28 feet in breadth, , 18 1/2 feet in height ceiling, pillars , pilasters of corinthian order. adjoining, library, filled excellent editions of classics , other valuable works, under sole control of master... eton latin , greek grammars @ present in use; , system of education similar of eton college.

in 19th century anniversary school meeting took place on every second thursday in september, being gathering of school s former pupils. cyrus redding, in illustrated itinerary of county of cornwall (1842) called truro grammar school celebrated school in county .

with creation of diocese of truro in 1876 cornish part of old diocese of exeter, 16th-century parish church of st mary s designated cathedral. church partly demolished , partly incorporated new neo-gothic truro cathedral, built on same site. pupils of old grammar school had worshipped @ st mary s , became responsible providing new cathedral s choristers. began known cathedral school .

in 1906 school established truro cathedral school dean , chapter church of england public school. 20th century school independent school , had boarding house called trewinnard court. buildings designed cathedral architect f. l. pearson , built in precincts of cathedral. in 1925 headmaster resided @ trewinnard court. @ time choristers paid no tuition fees , there 2 bray scholarships open choristers worth £30 p.a. hawkins scholarship worth £80 p.a. open former pupils studying @ university , tenable 3 years. 1920s cathedral school s reputation had increased.

during second world war, school took junior boys evacuated st paul s, london, of whom joined truro cathedral choir.

in 1949, school occupying copeland court, kenwyn, formerly bishop s palace known lis escop . until 1960, school had large building in cathedral close. in 1968 school s age range 7 eighteen. there 212-day boys , 109 boarders. of these, twenty-two cathedral choristers.

in 1974 school teaching cornish wrestling part of physical education programme , school in cornwall so. in 1979 reported provide continuous education boys 7–18 either boarders or day boys .

closure , aftermath

the times reported on 19 april 1982 viscount falmouth, chairman of school s governing body, had written parents break news school close @ end of year s summer term. stated reason deteriorating finances , , lord falmouth said in letter decision had been taken great reluctance, after exploring possible alternatives , after considering professional advice . john wolters, headmaster, wrote separately parents school find places boys in other schools. other members of staff responded issuing statement on 18 april hoping school continue, if necessary on reconstituted basis .

reasons have since been suggested closure include lack of modern facilities, economic downturn of 1980s, , competing needs funding of truro cathedral, owned school buildings.

polwhele house school

a limited liability company called truro cathedral school ltd incorporated on 21 november 1960 , still in existence. school s task of providing cathedral s choristers has been transferred neighbouring polwhele house preparatory school, , number of choristers eighteen.

the former school building in cathedral close called old cathedral school , office building; used such cornwall council unitary authority until council gave up. building still owned cathedral. cornwall record office holds school s archives, including lists of masters, pupils , benefactors dating between 1612 , 1876 , governors cash books 1882 1984.