Front view of Blundell's Free Grammar School in Tiverton anno 1784 (1790)

Dunsford, Martin. Historical memoirs of the town and parish of Tiverton. Exeter: M. Dunsford. 1790. pp. 342-349This noble edifice, somewhat resembling the colleges of the Universities, is situated at the east end of the town, on the south side of the road leading to Cullumpton, near the banks of the Lowman, which runs close to the wall of the gardens towards the West. It is a strong stone building, having a durable roof of chesnut wood, built similar to that of Westminster-hall, and covered with blue slate. The walls are about 3 feet thick, and 18 feet high; and the top of the roof 36 feet from the floor. The whole is a regular structure, about 170 feet long, and 30 feet wide; divided in length into three parts; separated by two passages, having two arched stone porches before them, each about 15 feet square without. Three large stone windows are uniformly placed in the front of each division, and one in each porch. The front of the whole pile towards the North is neatly cased with yellow Purbeck stone, and exhibits an elegant and magnificent appearance. The eastern passage, 7 feet wide, inclosed (sic) by a strong oak railing, leads to the usher's apartments, and separates the schools. On the left is the higher school, where the master himself presides. The lower school is on the right of the passage, and under the care of the usher. Over the passage is a gallery, leading from the porch-chamber to the upper rooms of the usher's house. Above the gallery, in the centre of the roof, between the schools, is an elegant lead turret, or cupola, a pleasing external ornament, in which is a large bell for the clock, and to summon the boys to school.[…]In front of the schools is a fine level quadrangular field, or green, about an acre, surrounded by a well-built stone wall, about ten feet high, coped with yellow Purbeck stone: within this a row of twenty-six lime trees, planted about 10 feet from the walls, which forms a shady summer's walk. Under a stone arch, in the centre of the front wall of the green, which is separated from the highway by a narrow paved walk and wooden railing, is an elegant iron gate, painted blue, and partly gilt: over it, engraved on stone, in old characters, is the following inscription-------"This free grammar-school was founded at the only cost and charge of Mr. Peter Blundell, of this town, clothier, anno Domini 1604, aetatis suae 81."[…] On each side of the gate within are the apartments of the porter, and sheds adjoining. From the gate is a wide paved path to the centre of the green, where it branches towards the porches in form of the letter Y. Another paved path leads from one porch to the other. This green is the constant theatre for all the active diversions: it is well adapted to the recreation necessary for classic learning. The whole arrangement was admirably contrived by the sensible and generous founder to encourage the acquisition of knowledge, which every ingenuous youth with remark is but the first step to the attainment of wisdom and virtue, the path to present peace and durable felicity.PETER BLUNDELL, clothier and merchant, founder of this school, was born at Tiverton, in the year 1520, of parents in such low station of life, that when very young he was obliged to run on errands, and do other little services for the common carriers, to obtain necessary support.[…]From this employ, with much care, he saved a little money, with which he bought a piece of kersey cloth, and sent it to London by one of the carriers, who charged him nothing for the carriage, sold it to great advantage, and made him a faithful return. The profits from this kersey, and a few more savings, enabled him to purchase others , which he sent and sold in like manner.[…]Mr. Blundell continued in London 'till he had acquired a fortune sufficient to begin the manufacture of kerseys, when he returned to Tiverton, and established that business, which he conducted many years with great credit and success.[…]The fortune he acquired by these truly laudable means was very great for those days. Happily his mind enlarged with his circumstances; his liberality was unconfined, and his bounty was general and useful. He appears to have been a very considerate man, and earnest in his endeavours to discover the true interests of his fellow men, and to confer lasting benefits upon them.[Text may be taken from a different edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]

Copper l.engr

140x221mm

S016. DUNSFORD, Martin: HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OF THE TOWN AND PARISH OF TIVERTON.