Derby School
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| Motto | Vita Sine Literis Mors (Life without Learning is Death) |
|---|---|
| Established | c. 1160, refounded 1554 |
| Closed | 1989 |
| Type | Grammar school |
| Founders | Walkelin and Goda |
| Location |
Derby Derbyshire England Coordinates: 52°55′13″N 1°28′36″W / 52.9202°N 1.4766°W |
| Houses | Gately's, Tanner's, Fuller's, and Grimes' |
| Publication | The Derbeian |
| Former pupils | Old Derbeians |
Derby School was a school in Derby in the English Midlands from 1160 to 1989. It had an almost continuous history of education of over eight centuries. For most of that time it was a grammar school for boys. The school became co-educational and comprehensive in 1972 and was closed in 1989. In 1994 a new independent school called Derby Grammar School for boys was founded.
The school was founded in the 12th century around 1160 by a local magnate, Walkelin de Derby (also called Walkelin de Ferrieres, or de Ferrers) and his wife, Goda de Toeni, who gave their own house to an Augustinian priory called Darley Abbey to be used for the school. Local legend has it that it was the second oldest school in England. However, there is no firm information as to the site of the original school. Recorded in a book entitled "Distinguished Alumni of Derby School" by J.M.J. Fletcher and published in 1872 there is a drawing of "St. Helen's House in Olden Times" on the inside front cover which it is believed was the original house given to the Augustinian Monks. Its site eventually became a marble workshop and factory, somewhere on the opposite side of King Street from the new St. Helen's House built in 1766 and 1767.
While Derby School was in existence almost continuously for more than eight centuries, it was closed for a few years first between 1536 and 1541 as a result of the Dissolution of the Monasteries and then until its re-founding by Royal Charter in 1554
Magna Britannia says of Derby School -
Further research of Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England published in 1848 finds the following supporting evidence relating to Derby School.
The sum of £25 is annually paid to the master, by Emmanuel Collegae, Cambridge, under the will of Mr. Ash, who also founded ten exhibitions at that college, for boys educated at this school and that of Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Jane Walton, who died in 1603, bequeathed the sum of £40 for the benefit of the master and usher; and £100 to the master of St. John's College, Cambridge, towards the maintenance of such young men educated here as should be admitted into that college. Flamsteed, the astonomer, received part of his education at this institution.
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