REMINISCENCES OF THE LAMBETH BOYS SCHOOL

A RETROSPECT.

By JAMES PARKINS, ESQ., A.K.C.

The disappearance of the old School in Hercules Buildings, where, for over 200 years, a school for boys bad stood on the piece of ground known as Lambeth Green, is a matter for genuine regret.

The time honoured building, with its quaint gables, as they existed before the addition of the large Upper Room-the diamond shaped window panes, the interesting old gateway, the stone canopy enclosing the ancient figure of the Coade Boy, and the picturesque Board Room and Head Master's House, with the Savings Bank adjoining, had long been a prominent feature of this part of Lambeth, and had formed a really pleasing block of buildings.

But the exigencies of the time had called for its removal, and the erection of a new School in Lambeth Road may, it is hoped, inaugurate a fresh career of usefulness.

The valuable services rendered by this and similar schools in the past can scarcely be exaggerated, and constitute their best claim to respect and consideration. For they were often, not only active centres of educational life and training, but exerted a powerful influence for good in many ways upon the lives of the people who resided near them. At a time when educational provision for the poorer classes of the community was left almost entirely to the Church or to private beneficence, such schools at their establishment, met a want much more keenly felt than in our own day, and as years went on they responded freely to many needs of the people around them.

They provided almost the only places for public meetings and recreation of a simple and wholesome character, and were the headquarters of numerous agencies for good in their respective neighbourhoods.

Such was the case with the Lambeth Boys' School, which, like many others of its class, did a quiet and excellent work extending over many years of fruitful labour, amply fulfilling the designs of its founders, developing their original intentions, and directing its opportunities of usefulness into many unexpected channels.

Some years prior to the Education Act of 1870, the School had become firmly established as a well known South London institution, with the Archbishop of Canterbury as its Patron, and with a reputation extending far beyond parochial bounds.

But greater than the advantages derived from tradition and ancient service, or its connection with the Archbishops of Canterbury and the Church, was the excellence of the education given within its walls. Of this, parents of all denominations in the neighbourhood availed themselves to the fullest extent, no religious difficulty suggesting any obstacle to the freest use of the excellent training the boys at that time were receiving under the watchful and careful supervision of the late Rev. John Fentiman Lingham, M.A., who was then Rector and Rural Dean of Lambeth, and of the late Dr. Thomas Edmund Heller, during whose term of office as Head Master, the School reached a high degree of progress and efficiency. No greater proof of the ability and high character of Dr. Heller can be mentioned than the fact that, as a recognised educational authority, he was invited to become one of the earliest members of the London School Board, and represented Lambeth for a long period. He was for some time editor of the Schoolmaster, the chief organ of the teachers in elementary schools, and he was one of the earliest officials of the National Union of Elementary Teachers. 

He started Evening Classes at the School for working men and others who desired to continue their education, and these were completely successful, and anticipated the work carried on later by the London School Board in their Evening Continuation Schools. There was likewise an Art School, and for many years a very largely attended and successful series of classes in connection with the Science and Art Department at South Kensington. It would be difficult to enumerate all the useful agencies at this time connected with the School.

The Right Hon. Alicia Countess of Chichester

Lady Pelly

The Rector, who was in his own way quite as great an educational expert as the Head Master, enlisted the active sympathy and support of Archbishop Longley and his immediate successor, Archbishop Tait, to both of whom the Parish Schools were greatly indebted. Mr. Lingham formed at the Boys' School a public Lending Library, which was remarkably successful, and offered many of the advantages now provided at the Free Libraries, while, on Saturday evenings during the winter, the Hercules Recreation Club afforded, for over twenty years, social amusement for a very large number of members, its work being widely known and appreciated throughout South London.

On the resignation of Dr. Heller in order to take up his work as editor of the Schoolmaster and Secretary of the Teachers' Union, Mr. John Hernaman, who had been one of the assistant masters, was appointed in his place, and again the School was singularly fortunate in obtaining the services of a most able and devoted Head Master.

His versatility and great personal influence with his pupils, and his power of calling out all that was best in a boy, were very striking.

No one who was present can forget the scene at his funeral in Lambeth Church, on March 28th, 1899. No more impressive testimony to his power and to the affection and respect he inspired in others could possibly have been afforded.

He proved a worthy successor to Dr. Heller, and gave the best years of his life to the School, where he laboured for twenty five years as Head Master. Had he chosen to exert his remarkable gifts in other directions there can be no doubt that he would have been equally successful.

He had long been a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, and although he was never called to the Bar, he would almost certainly have succeeded in a profession for which his peculiar gifts eminently fitted him.

His elocutionary abilities enabled him to give many readings and entertainments for charitable purposes, both in London and in the provinces, and found full scope in the very successful Elocution Class long carried on in connection with the Hercules Recreation Club.

Of this class, formed for the recital of selections from the best authors, with a view to encourage easy and graceful speaking, he was chairman, his fitness for the post having been acknowledged by Professor Charles John Plumptre, brother of the late Dean of Wells and Professor of Public Reading and Speaking at King's College, London.

In a letter dated March 31st, 1875, Professor Plumptre wrote :-

"I send for your acceptance the last copy I have left of my King's College Lectures on Elocution, as a slight proof of my regard and grateful sense of obligation for the manner in which you so kindly and efficiently discharged my duties at King's College When I was prevented from doing so by my serious illness. I need not say that you stand at the head of the class."

The success of the Lambeth Elocution Class made it a special feature of the admirable work accomplished by the Hercules Recreation Club, which, originally started by Dr. Heller, was in a very flourishing state at the time of Mr. Hernaman's connection with it, and formed a common meeting ground for men of all classes of religious and political opinions in South London Here Churchmen and Nonconformists met together and learned to feel that respect and toleration for each others opinions which enabled them to co-operate in many good works.

The musical and elocutionary entertainments for which the Club became famous provided a medium of healthy amusement and enjoyment to the large audiences who invariably supported them, and incidentally afforded a source of pecuniary advantage to the parochial and neighbouring charities. Of the history of the Hercules Recreation Club and its connection with the School much night be written. There were many talented men amongst the members, and large numbers profited by the advantages which the Club afforded. Many life friendships were formed, and a bond of union was established which survived the effects of time and altered conditions.

John Andrewes Reeve, M.A.

The Rev. George Henry Somerset Walpole, D.D.

The high character and attainments of the new Head Master soon influenced the fortunes of the School, which rapidly became one of the very best of its class, and might at one time have been easily converted into a Middle Class School for boys, at fees sufficiently high to have placed it above the necessity of any extraneous aid. It would in this case have reverted to the original design and intention of some of its founders, but would have ceased to be a Parish School for Boys of all classes. It did, however, fulfil all the conditions which the fusion of the Grammar School of the old foundation, with the d in Bear and Ragged Staff Yard had effected in 1761. The boys of comparatively well to do parents as well as the educated together, and derived and derived mutual benefit from the intercourse which was thus afforded.

The Lawrence Foundation and other similar bequests gave assistance to the poorer boys, while every encouragement was given to those lads who were able to continue their education at more advanced institutions.

Scholarships provided welcome aid, some being offered by Messrs. Maudslay, the well known engineers, whose works were then at Lambeth. These enabled their holders to undergo a course in the Engineering Department at King's College, and several boys availed themselves of this opportunity. A large number of other boys were successful in passing the Civil Service Examinations.

Mention has been made of Mr. Hernaman's career as a student at King's College.

He, matriculated in 1870, and was elected an Associate in 1875, and on coming to Lambeth he fostered in every way in his power the old connection between Lambeth and the College.

The Rev. Dr. D'Oyly, a very distinguished scholar and divine, who was Rector of Lambeth in 1820, was much interested in the cause of education, and to his suggestions and labours the foundation of King's College may largely be ascribed.

Mr. Hernaman took pleasure in sending on some of his more suitable pupils to the College which a former Rector of Lambeth had assisted to found, and while some, are now in Holy Orders, others were called to the, Bar, and others have been able to render useful services in various walks of life.

At a later period, when a department for the special training of school teachers was opened at King's College, the school received the well merited compliment of becoming affiliated to the College as a practising school.

This, while affording an opportunity to the students for gaining valuable experience, benefited the boys by ensuring some freshness and change in the teaching power of the School.

The efforts of Mr. Hernaman during the early part of his career as Head Master, met with every possible support and encouragement from the Rev. J. F. Lingham, who was then Rector of the parish.

Mr. Lingham was an accomplished classical scholar, with an extensive knowledge of modern languages, and had in his early days travelled over a great part of Europe and the East. He was keenly interested in the School, and imbued many of the boys with his own cultivated tastes and refined scholarship, apparently grudging no time or labour, spent either in or out of school hours, in a department of work which he regarded as one of the most important and fruitful in a well ordered parish.

The great measure of success which attended the joint efforts of the Rector and the Head Master was mainly due to the perfect accord which existed between them, and accounted largely for the efficiency and high position which the school reached at this time. For allied to intellectual force, they both possessed the sympathy and simplicity of character, which is one of the secrets of success in dealing with the young. To this was added a grasp of one of the essential principles of education too often overlooked- namely, that true education consists in drawing out rather than in pouring in.

They both recognise (I that the development of the faculties on right lines, so as to render the child a useful member of society, is the end to which the instruction imparted in the school is a means.

Those schools are surely likely to be most successful, in which the spirit of a gentleman and the spirit of true religion, are manifested and inculcated.

If the affections can be engaged, feelings of admiration and attachment to all that is noble and good may be made to influence the life and sustain the character.

The history of this and many other schools has shown that such an ideal is not impossible of achievement when directed by wise and capable men who do not fail to take into account the effect of other and sometimes adverse educative influences outside the child's school life.

It was said of the School, by one who knew it well, that its dominant tone was one of happy activity, and certainly one of its most striking characteristics was the indescribable atmosphere of cheerful happiness and content which invariably prevailed, rendering the work of teachers and pupils alike a pleasure rather than a task.

But trying times were in store for the School, which gradually became surrounded by large and splendidly equipped Board Schools, in which instruction was imparted without fee, with more numerous and better paid teachers, and with conditions of work more favourable in every way than those obtaining h the older schools. At the same time, there was a steady and depressing change in local conditions, which was more trying than the competition of the Board Schools.

All the more prosperous class of residents gradually deserted the neighbourhood and were succeeded by residents of a very different type.

Lambeth, as was the case more or less with the whole of South London, was rapidly becoming poorer and poorer, and in no respect was this more strikingly exemplified than in the gradual exodus of the better class of tradesmen and artisans, whose sons had formerly received their education in the School.

Jones’ : Treasurers Unto The Third Generation Thereof

While it became increasingly difficult to obtain local financial support, the remission of fees which was ultimately extended to all public elementary schools, accentuated the difficulty, and the Lambeth School like most other voluntary schools now began to suffer keenly from greatly reduced means, and crippled resources.

In spite, however, of this trying change in the whole aspect of affairs, the School still continued to do excellent work, as was shown by the annual reports of the Government Inspectors, and both Mr. Hernaman and the Hon. and Rev. F. G. Pelham who had succeeded Mr. Lingham as Rector, struggled gallantly to maintain the high character of the School and the efficiency of the instruction imparted in it.

An enlargement of the school premises at this time increased the accommodation and provided greater scope for its operations, and enabled the two large arches of the London and South Western Railway Company’s main line at the rear of the School to be disused as class rooms, and to be fitted up as a gymnasium and play room respectively.

A powerful branch of the Young Men's Friendly Society was founded by Canon Pelham, which provided attractions for the old scholars who still continued to reside in the vicinity, and served as a valuable means of recreation for the elder boys of the School, as they severed their connection with it as scholars.

The Hon. Canon Pelham and his immediate successor, the Rev. John Andrewes-Reeve canted on the old traditions, and took a warm interest in the School, forming many friendships with the boys, and greatly influencing the course of its continued career as a successful primary School.

Mr. Pelham, who afterwards became Earl of Chichester, maintained his active interest and sympathetic support, up to the time of his death, and his name and that of the Countess of Chichester are gratefully remembered by many old scholars.

It may not be out of place in a review of the School extending over nearly 40 years of its more recent life, to make some mention of the Boys' Sunday School, which was held within its walls. Served by a large staff of teachers, consisting mainly of former scholars of the Dav School, an attempt was made to impart religious instruction on definite Church lines leading up to confirmation and active Church membership.

Here also there were numerous agencies for good, including Temperance Societies, Bands of Hope, Guilds, Bible Classes and Training Classes for the younger teachers, and a very successful Children' Service held for many years at Archbishop Tenison's School in High Street.

The Sunday School was a useful adjunct of the Day School, with the same happy atmosphere, and the very large number of young men who were at one time connected with it, were trained to interest themselves in various forms of Church work, so as

“Not to rust unburnished,
But to shine in use.”

A few years before Mr. Hernaman's sudden and lamented death, he received a very gratifying compliment from the London School Board, who appointed him one of the organisers of their Evening Continuation Schools in South London.

This was a work in which he delighted, and his appointment to it was a signal recognition on the part of the School Board of his ability, experience, and power of organization.

Although a Church teacher, his appointment was approved and welcomed by the Board teachers, who soon found in him a warm friend and a sympathetic and helpful adviser in their evening work.

Special mention must be made of Mr. Hernaman's extraordinary influence with his pupils, who frequently came to him for advice and assistance years after they had passed out of the School, and were always gladly welcomed at his house.

It is almost impossible to estimate the advantage which was derived from the fact that the Head Master had an official residence, and was thus always on the spot.

The great influence exercised by both Dr. Heller and Mr. Hernaman on the parents of the boys, and on the neighbourhood generally was one of the most noticeable features of their work.

Mr. Herman at all times cultivated friendly relations with the parents, and secured their co-operation, and the numerous visits he received from old boys led to the establishment of an annual gathering, which some five years after his death was revived in somewhat different form.

Benson Clough, Esq. Barrister-at-Law
An intimate friend of the late John Hermana, Esq.

George Valentin, Esq.
An intimate friend of the late John Hermana, Esq., well known to Old Boys