First a word of apology: I have spelled words as found on the original documents I’ve consulted, and have not tried to make these consistent. Hopefully, the story will still make sense! I should also apologise for referring almost entirely throughout to the Hon. Mrs Algernon Persse simply as Mrs Persse. I must also apologise for the dense text and lack of photographs.
So, last week we learned a bit about the reverend John George Gordon, the first headteacher of the Loughborough Grammar School, when it moved to its current location. Since then, the school archivist has been in touch and provided a few more details about the final days of the career of the Rev'd Gordon at the school.
In the spring of 1860, Rev'd Gordon had expelled a young student by the name of Algernon Perse (1) who was from Scotland and who was a boarded at the Grammar School. Upon learning of the expulsion, Algernon's father, Dudley, wrote to the school, as a result of which, Rev'd Gordon was interviewed by the school's trustees, its deputy headteacher, and Gordon's housekeeper, about the reason's behind the boy's expulsion.
Here's what the archivist said:
"During the spring of 1860 he [Gordon] had expelled Algernon Perse, a boarder from Scotland, but it the manner of their final confrontation that was to have repercussions.
Mr Dudley Perse [father of Algernon] wrote to the trustees expressing dissatisfaction with the conclusion which they had reached with regard to his son. He stated that Dr Gordon had exclaimed to him [Algernon] 'None of your lies, Sir' and had then kicked him.
On 1st June 1860 the trustees interviewed Dr Gordon, his deputy (2), and his housekeeper about the quarrel and the struggle."
Following this interview, the trustees took the unusual step of interviewing three boys - William Bolton, James Sweetenham, and William Farmer - who had been witness to the 'quarrel and struggle':
"Clearly unhappy at what they heard, they decided to interview on 13th June, three boys who were eye-witnesses to the incident. William Bolton, a 14-year-old boarder from Dublin, had seen Gordon strike Perse once with the 'whacking cane'. Perse seized the cane after which the headmaster kicked him twice. During the struggle, James Sweetenham, aged 13 from Cumberland entered the room. He heard Perse urge Gordon to 'keep himself cool', but Gordon was 'much excited' and kicked him twice."
Clearly the trustees were shocked by Gordon's behaviour, and as, according to the archivist, they "had been looking for some time to get rid of Gordon - in fact since 1853" (3) and were ready to dismiss him from post, but before they managed to do this, Gordon resigned. Apparently:
"The trustees were unimpressed by the [resignation] letter which was self-pitying and self-serving, blaming his aberrant behaviour on the stress of running a new school in conditions which he had never previously experienced."
So unimpressed were the trsutees that they refused to grant Gordon's request for a pension.
And so, the search for a new headteacher began ...
(1) Algernon Perse, surname variously spelled Perse, Persse, Perces, Pierce, Piersse etc..
(2) The deputy headteacher at the time was Rev'd J. Kitchen
(3) Astonishing since Gordon had only been headteacher since the school opened in its new location in 1852
Posted by lynneaboutloughborough 24 October 2021
You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:
Lynne
Although like many people I often walk along the public footpath, Burton Walks, through the grammar school grounds, and in the past I've taken my children to the summer activity camps, and myself been to numerous events in the dining hall – railway fairs, collectibles fairs – as well as to numerous band events – concerts and contests – in the Hodson Hall, the opportunity to actually visit some of the school buildings with a view to learning about their history, doesn’t come along very often.
So, last weekend I was lucky enough to be able to visit the Loughborough Grammar School, and as well as learning about some of its history, I was able to take a view of Loughborough that I had not seen before.
When I arrived at the quadrangle, from the Burton Walks side, I had a good look through the open door towards Leicester Road, and looked around the ground floor entrance hallway, where hung portraits of notable LGS alumni – Sir Thomas Abney; George Davys; Richard Pulteney, and William Yates [i], as well as other interesting artefacts.
I had been in this part of the school before, but I had not, before, been up the tower, so that is where I excitedly went next! In my haste to get to the top, and look at the views, I forgot to count the steps as I went up – and forgot when I came down too! I wonder how it compares with the Carillon?
At the top of the tower were some Taylors bells, and some wonderful views! From up here there was a brilliant 360-degree view of Loughborough and its surroundings, and it was fun trying to work out exactly what I was looking at. Some views were obvious because of the buildings that could be seen – the Carillon, with its copper dome, really stands out, and the former Ladybird factory on Beeches Road, with the Leicestershire Wolds beyond, is also pretty distinctive. The Charnwood Hills form a clear outline, even if my photos don't do them justice!
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| The former Ladybird factory with the Leicestershire Wolds beyond |
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| The Charnwood Hills in the distance |
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| The Carillon looking tiny in the distance |
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| View towards Leicester Road |
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| View of the quad |
The bells on the tower were all made by Taylors, the Loughborough bellfounders. There was a group of 4, bells, installed in memory of the son of a former headteacher, who died during the First World War in 1916. Along with these four bells, is another bell, and, if I’ve understood this correctly, these bells play the Cambridge Chimes, sometimes known as the Westminster chimes.
On my way
back down the tower, I stopped off in the two classrooms that are off the spiral
staircase. Again, some interesting views out, but also some interesting contents,
including, in one classroom, the electrified mechanism for the clock.
Once back
down on the ground floor, I wandered around, looking at the wonderful old photographs
that had been put out for display, along with some of the books that had been
awarded as school prizes, and reading the huge amount of information laid out
about the actual preparation for the building of the school, around 1852.
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| Read more about the teacher on the right in the front row in an earlier blogpost |
Having taken
in as much as I could, I made my way out into the quadrangle, having realised
how striking the grass was, and noted that the trees which had been planted around
the perimeter were in memory of former pupils who had died during the First
World War.
[i] A little more information about these people appears in my book, ‘A-Z of Loughborough’.
Posted by lynneaboutloughborough 26 September 2021
You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:
Lynne
