The Methodist Ladies’ Luncheon Club was given a very interesting talk by Michael Hoy MBE on the history of King William’s College.

Mr Hoy taught English and drama at the private school for 33 years.

He recalled some famous names in the college history, starting with Bishop Isaac Barrowm who was appointed after the 17th century Parliamentary Civil War years.

Apparently Bishop Barrow described the island people as ’louche, vicious, ignorant and illiterate’!

In 1670 he was inspired to set up primary schools in every parish and an academic school to prepare the most able for life in the church.

He received funds from the Stanley family and two farms from the eighth Earl of Derby near Derbyhaven were bought where the college and half the airport now stand.

Bishop Barrow’s aims for a grammar school in each town were hampered by shortage of funds and by the late 1820s existing buildings were neglected and poverty stricken. A new Governor, Cornelius Smelt, was helpful. He felt Barrow’s money had been mishandled. In 1829 Bishop George Murray fled the island after a potato tax had been launched.

He was chased off with pitch forks!

Bishop William Ward replaced him.

In 1830 Governor Smelt laid the foundation stones for King William’s College.

It was to be a combined church and civil foundation. John Welch, a distinguished Liverpool artist was invited over to see to the design. Derbyhaven, then a flourishing port, was to be provided with a chapel.

thriving

It was felt by some that the college should have been built in Douglas, a thriving town.

Edward Wilson, King William’s College’s first principal, found money short.

The first pupils comprised 70 English boys, 50 Irish, 10 Scots and 15 Manx boys.

The fees were minimal. Bishop Wilson welcomed them as priests for the future.

Still struggling with money and with damp entering the college building Principal Wilson contacted King William IV who was pleased to lend his royal name, though did not contribute to funds.

The college at this time was sending on students to Oxford, Cambridge and Durham universities.

In 1841 Principal Wilson was headhunted to Cheltenham and Robert Dickson became principal.

In 1844 a great fire gutted the college south west wing and militia men and residents rushed to rescue boys and servants.

Lives were saved but the fire raged all night and the library, combined with Rushen library, was entirely lost. Insurance only covered half the cost and subscriptions were raised. The general state of the college building was not perfect in the 1840s.

It appeared lovely in the sunshine but was dark and gloomy in poor weather.

Little study rooms were squashed in to the top of the tower.

The chapel was still the original. Food was poor. Breakfast was butted bread and tea.

Dinner had little meat and no potatoes.

This must have sparked the riot among Irish boys who were thrown out back to Dublin. Boarders from off the island were in college for ten months of the year.

The curriculum, however, was acknowledged as quite wide and evening homework well established.

An independent inspector considered things were satisfactory, though apparently some poaching and thieving went on behind the scenes.

The sons of the Vicar of Maughold formed a company of fellow students, poached fish, gutted and salted it and hid it in a tunnel below the chapel reached by a ladder.

It was then brought out and fried and eaten enthusiastically. At this time T E Brown was a day boy.

debt

In 1847 debt began to be less severe. There was an endowment for maths and in 1850 scholarships were offered to Manx boys.

In 1855 T E Brown returned to the island and was on the college teaching staff. As vice principal he had a great influence. It is interesting to hear that the first Independent Grammar Schools of the 19th Century in Britain were in the Isle of Man, spread over four towns. All others came later.

Entertaining slides showed an informal group of 18 year olds and younger boys.

The early uniform was just a scarlet band round the hat.

Pictures of games revealed an early form of cricket around 1880, tennis in the summer, rugby around 1877 and a violent form of hockey known as cammag,

In 1875 new building began. The chapel in the north wing became teaching rooms and a library. In 1879 a new chapel was built.

There was an annual sports day and an 1882 picture showed a diving raft moored in the bay. There were debating and drama societies.

The picturesque White House at Hango Hill farm, known for its hot potato cakes could be seen. It is now a car park.

The memorable Joshua Hughes-Games who came over from the Liverpool Institute enhanced the college reputation.

He was a great mathematician and was known for strengthening links with other schools.

Another famous name on the college staff was William Bragg, an accomplished physicist who later won a Nobel prize in 1915.

He left the island for a post in Adelaide, Australia. Hughes-Games moved to Andreas and then transferred to Bishop’s Court.

In 1885 Frank Walters became a dynamic new principal.

He appointed three young imaginative teachers, developed the campus, installed a technical workshop and a steam laundry, introduced handwork and saw to the improvement of sleeping accommodation.

The talented Edith McKnight was a valued director of music, whom the college was lucky to have.

In 1897 at the time of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee there was boating and sailing at Silverdale and a firework display.

chapel

In the same year Derbyhaven chapel was finally built, solely by the college staff and students.

Two years later the principal’s report told of Franck Walters death at 47.

Frank’s words were remembered ’The most important factor in school life is the well-being of every boy’.

Former pupils can now look back on a school which promoted success in so many subjects in very pleasant, attractive surroundings.

A sincere vote of thanks was given to Mr Hoy by Pat Godby.