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A History
of the Museum and Building
Ashford
Borough Museum Society was founded in 1989. The Museum is governed by a constitution and is a registered charity
(No.298060). The trustees act as the Museum Management body but the day-to-day
running of the Museum is entrusted the the Museum Society Committee.
The
Museum is housed in the
building which was originally designed and built by Sir Norton Knatchbull in 1635
for the newly formed Ashford Grammar School. It has been restored but many of
the original features both outside and inside remain.
The
building itself is historic, and is one of the best examples of a
17th century schoolhouse in the UK. It was designed and built
in 1635 by Sir Norton Knatchbull to house Ashford Grammar School.
The building still has original graffiti on the wainscoting from
the children who attended the school, and niches where their books
were placed. The Headmaster's and Usher's seats can also be
seen at the museum. More can be found about the Museum's history
in Helping the Museum.
At the
bottom of the page, a picture shows the original building in its
former glory situated in the churchyard with schoolboys playing outside. The
requirements of new pupils were to be able to read and write whereby
maintaining the exclusivity of the school. The Grammar School reached its
peak of popularity in the late 1700's due to its good reputation; the school was
extended as a result.
However, this did not
last - the school eventually closed
in 1870/1 possibly due to a poor number of students. The buildings and the lands
belonging to the school were sold and the money was used to provide a new
grammar school in Hythe Road, Ashford.
The building
then became known as Dr Wilk's Memorial Hall. It
is owned by Ashford Borough Council but is leased to the Museum Society free of
charge.
Headmasters of Ashford Grammar School
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1635 - Baptist Piggott M.A.
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1657 - Simon How M.A.
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1673 - Strangford Viall M.A.
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1679 - John Drake M.A.
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1712 - Richard Bate M.A.
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1749 - Stephen Barrett M.A.
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1764/6 - William Hodson M.A.
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1773 - Charles Stoddart M.A.
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1812 - John Nance M.A. & D.D.
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1832 - Ephraim Hemmings Snoad M.A.
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1856 - Robert Henry Wright M.A.
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1867 - Francis Avarne Dewe M.A.
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