Monument record MDO46854 - Free School, High Street, Gillingham

School founded in the sixteenth century.

The Free School, Gillingham is a large old building near the church with a house for the master, formerly a church house. The date of foundation is unknown, but in 1598 it was decreed that 40 marks yearly of the rents from the parish should be used to employ a schoolmaster. <1> The former Free School is situated at the premises now occupied by A.J. Stone (grocers) in the High Street. Mr A J Stone stated that his father attended the school here about 1900 but it was discontinued before the First World War. Access to the premises was not possible during field investigation. The north face is stuccoed and painted with modern windows. The north-south wing is of stone rubble construction possibly of 18th century origin. No evidence of any pre-18th century feature was visible but the walls may be those of the original building. <3> Remains of the Free School in the High Street, Gillingham are now incorporated in a shop. The only notable feature is the late 16th century ceiling of a ground floor room, with heavy ogee-moulded and hollow-chamfered oak wall plates and similarly moulded cross-beams forming a ceiling of four panels. The walls are rendered and no original openings are identifiable. <4>

Record last edited

Jul 24 2023 11:43AM