Bablake School

The Katherine Bayley’s Charity School was originally behind the Draper's Hall.

Thanks Rosemary/Cliff/Helen - yes Rosemary the reason I ask is I spotted a Bayleys Charity School building behind LPY on an 1888 map. Edited by member, 1st Oct 2017 2:33 am

I've just posted this on the Little Park Street thread. 88 Little Park Street was the home of Katherine Bayley who was the founder of the Katherine Bayley School (Blue Gift School) in 1723. Up to the mid 1800s the school itself was situated near Drapers' Hall in Bayley Lane before moving to Little Park Street until 1889 when it merged into Bablake School. I found a wonderful document whilst researching my Great Great Grandfather who as a tailor made the school uniforms. Extract from a document entitled "NUISANCES Notice of Entry for Examination" ".....stating that in or upon the said premises there are some offensive privies and cesspools which require abatement and removal and the construction of water closets" Dated 9 December 1857

Liked yours Neil but here is a coloured view of Bablake boys in the Quad! Edited by member, 24th Aug 2018 8:24 pm

Prof, I took this in 2010, showing the same building as in your image

Thanks Midland Red nice to see it then and now.

A postcard view

A line drawing of the the Hill Street scene Edited by member, 29th Sep 2018 8:23 pm

Bond's Hospital and Bablake

Bonds Hospital for men was founded about the year 1506, and the foundation of Wheatley's, the half-timbered hospital for boys at Bablake, was, according to tradition, largely due to a peculiar circumstances. The boys there used to wear a dolphin as their badge in token of the saving of one of the ships of their founder. The vessel when out at sea, sprang a leak, to the great jeopardy of the crew, and merchandise on board; but, by some miraculous chance, the leak was stayed, and the ship brought safely to port, where it was found that a large dolphin had got wedged into the hole, and had stopped the water from coming in. The merchant thereupon gave the ship and its contents to found the school. At the Bablake boy's hospital, tradition records that Thomas Wheatley, an ironmonger, cardboard maker and merchant (who had been mayor in 1556) bought some steel from Spain, but to his consternation found fifty barrels of silver. The silver was disposed of, and with the proceeds arising from the sale, and other money, he purchased the land which he gave to the Hospital of Bablake, which bears his name.