The Infant School - Epsom College Archive Website

Start? 1855 to 18 63
Initial Problems
By tradition it has
been supposed
that the College
had a shaky start,
more of an
orphanage than a
school and badly
administered by a
rather naive
Council of
doctors, rather
than professional
educators.
page 20
The eleemosynary branch of the
College was undoubtedly an
important feature as it is in most
public schools, ancient and
modem, but Mr. Propert soon
convinced himself that he ought
to have resisted those who
persuaded him to allow the
introduction of the word
"benevolent" in the charter; and
it is no secret that when the
Treasurer is justified in applying
.
Bfl E DIC A EL

first mentioned by the Council in October
1856. Dr. Stilwell, the school Medical Officer,
wrote in a newspaper article in I 857 that there
was nothing in the complaints of one or two
boys. In fact there followed a court case in
1861, when Dr Stilwell accused the College's
butcher, MrThomas Humphrey, of causing
illness among the boys as a result of the quality
of his meat. According to the Surrey Standard,
on 15th August, Dr Stillwell had said:
" can stand this no longer; I will go and speak
to Mr. Gibbs [the Steward]." He accordingly
went and said, "I have had great complaints
about the meat." His reply was, "I have been in
public employ all my life and I have never seen
such good meat served to public institutions."
Defendant said, "There must be some mistake,
for the servants have complained and Mr
Jenkins has complained," to which Mr Gibbs
said, "Jenkin's son is a troublesome boy and we
don't listen to what he says." Defendant then
remarked, "I must tell you what I have heard,"
and told him what Mr John Steel had said to
him, "that the meat was exceedingly bad at the
College, and that the butcher bought legs of
mutton by the yard and that he was almost
hooted from the market."
The case turned on what was said and whether
the butcher "bought mutton by the yard" or
had been "hooted from the market". While it
was found against Dr. Stilwell, the court
awarded only two pounds damages, to make
sure that the case could not be appealed.Their
sentiment was clearly that the doctor was right
and that the meat was bad. Gibbs, the Steward,
whose responsibility was the inspection of the
meat, was sacked. It was perhaps unwise for the
College Council to take tenders for the supply
of commodities for a six month period, and to
always choose the cheapest supplier, but the
real position was that the College needed to
run as cheaply as possible in order to afford
the next step in development College supplies
were expensive, compared with other schools,
because of the distance from the metropolitan
markets, while the institution was too large to
be supplied just from Epsom.
While there were many other minor difficulties
in the first few years, none of these would be
EDUCATION AT THE
ROYAL MEDICAL
BENEVOLENT COLLEGE
To the Editor of THE LANCET
SIR, -.. .1 must confess in limine
to the weakness of not liking the
word "Benevolent." I should
rather not, except on strong
inducement, send my boys to a
place so patented and labelled as
a charitable institution, and I
suppose this to be so common a
feeling that many others must
think this with me. Eton is, in
fact, a "benevolent" institution
like our own College, so is
Winchester, so is Charterhouse,
and the Carthusians at the latter
much resemble the decayed
brethren we are proud to support
at Epsom; so also is the
Marlborough College, intended
specially for the sons of
clergymen, and so are many of
the foundation and other schools
throughout the kingdom; but it
would a little grate upon the ear
if they were called the Eton
Benevolent College, the Charterhouse
Benevolent School, and so
forth. Why should not the word
"Benevolent" be expunged from
the title of the noble institution
which Mr. Propert, aided by the
zeal of the profession, has
founded? It is not a true word, as
regards the majority of the boys
who are being educated in the
school; and it must be distasteful
to parents, as well as to those
collegers who are old enough to
mink at all of the matter.
Furthermore, it is little calculated
to add to the pride of the masters
in being connected with the
College. A good master would do
his duty under one name as well
as another, but it is only fair that
the prestige of the heads of the
school should be promoted as far
in fairness as possible. Why,
then, should it not be called the
"Royal Medical College"?
Surely the contributions of the
profession would flow in quite as
freely for its great and good
purposes without the titular
parade of charity, and its
accompanying
disadvantages.. .[The writer goes
on to criticise short holidays,
long hours, poor food and
frequent floggings]
Let the boys, I say in conclusion,
have less work and more play; a
better diet, and fewer floggings.
I am. Sir, your obedient servant,
January 1858
PATERFAMILIAS
.**..)_i£*~ " - ~ i ££ic u^r •".."•
I MM Lf :«/,«;« »ki,f.( • f tb« : ,. wd* •
la t be ;:>- '.^'""f
• '••-•-. '•.,•' i ' i i • . : , . • - . i - . . . ' • ,._, ...,'..-•-
•.• = ' . . - , . , ; . - , ;.,:,.;•.,•;.•.•;• - "
"-• iaMtwwn. Mrf lMp|Mi tlm t* I.
unusual in the creation of a large institution
from nothing.The existence of the references in
the Minutes of the College Council and in the
medical press attests to the seriousness with
which such complaints were taken, and the
record suggests that they were quickly acted
upon.
•
***• 1 •TouldM.
:>:«. tbt MulMWM
Kitttr. it »«M W
-.-.. . : It.
. ! , | -. -» .
•,: :
•;.
I
. .
....,
• ....
.; . ..- '.
.!•. .
page 21

4.2 ife (jjreat Controversy
-. The difficulties already mentioned
were as nothing compared to the
controversy over the price of
education for doctors' sons, which
pushed the College into constant
reassessment and change during
these years.
The controversy was between a group of
'dissentient governors', led by Mr Cattlin, and the
College Council over whether the fees for
'exhibitioners', or sons of medical men, should
pay £30 per year as promised in the initial
campaign for the College, or the real cost of
education of £40 per year It began when, in
1856, it was decided to increase the fees, in line
with opinion about the meaning of the 1855
Royal Medical Benevolent College Act, which had
stipulated that fee payers could not be
supported from the charity There was an
immediate outcry from doctor parents at the
increase in fees, arguing that the new fees would
be more than many poorer doctors could afford
and that the Act, in calling sons of doctors
'Exhibitioners' had intended that they should
benefit from the charity, rather than just be fee
payers.The Act had obviously been loosely
worded and, over the next few years, legal
opinion differed as to its exact meaning.The
College Council decided to view it conservatively
and to make doctors pay the actual cost of their
sons' education, reserving the benefit of the
charity for the 40 orphan sons of doctors, known
as 'Foundationers'.The aggrieved parents
petitioned the Council for an Extraordinary
General Meeting, which was held in June 1857.
They wanted complete disclosure of the
accounts of the College and accused it of all
sorts of inefficiency, suggesting that a similar
education could be found elsewhere for as little
as £25 per year In 857 Mr Cattlin published a
critical report accusing the College of
mismanagement and the misuse of funds. For the
next few years the 'dissentient governors'
promoted their own candidates for election to
the College Council, many of whom were
a mii
Till: ROYAL
ma.de 1-y Dr.

A SHAKY
START
t>>.
KNT
i
i! ini.
KM 1>
liich
THE ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT COLLEGE
To the Editor of THE LANCET
SIR: - At a meeting of
governors of the Royal
Medical Benevolent
College, held at my house,
Oct29th, 1856, it was
resolved that a courteous
application be made to the
Council for a minute
account of the expenses of
the College so far as they
relate to the school for
exhibitioners. Such
application was made by
Dr. C.Taylor, of Bethel
Place. Camberwell, on
behalf of the meeting, who
undertook to defray any
expense to which the
College might be put in
preparing the same. The
following is the reply
received from the Council:
[The Council had met and
had declined to produce the
figures, stating that the
books were open to
inspection by a Governor]
It will be seen by Rule XL
That any governor is
entitled to inspect the
books without licence from
the Council, and it certainly
appears most arbitrary to
oblige medical practitioners
to spend their valuable time
in extracting accounts from
books, which they might
not understand, which
ought to be freely rendered
and which the secretary
informed me he could
prepare in the course of an
hour. The governors now
have no alternative but to
call an extraordinary
general meeting. The
following memorial has
been prepared for that
purpose, and all who desire
to co-operate are requested
to make copies of the same,
have them signed in their
respective neighbourhoods,
and forward them...
'• 3
(COPY OF MEMORIAL)
To the Council of the Royal
Medical Benevolent
College
We, the undersigned, being
governors of the Royal
Medical Benevolent
College, request that you
will convene an
Extraordinary General
Meeting of the governors
of the institution, to reconsider
the resolution
relating to the increased
charge for exhibitioners,
passed at the meeting of
Aug. llth, 1856, with a
view to its being altogether
rescinded or satisfactorily
adjusted; and also to take
into consideration the
affairs of the College
generally, more particularly
as to its working expenses
and the further
development of the
educational department...
elected. At every public meeting the dissentients
were defeated by large majorities but, never
satisfied, they grumbled on routinely accusing the
Council, and John Propert, of bad faith.This had
[ fe effects in lessening the impact of public
i appeals for subscriptions and donations to the
i College and, by the early 1860s, it was a powerful
| force in making the Council open the school to
non-medical parents, who would pay higher fees
and fund reductions for doctors' sons, If the
'dissentients' had won the day then educational
standards at the school must have been reduced,
plans for further development must have been
postponed and the College would have been
greatly harmed.

I
4.2 Tfc Infant SchooC
It is difficult to find out quite what the school was like in its early years.
There was no College magazine (the 'Epsomian' did not start until 1870)
and nothing survives written by pupils in the first years.
Certain insights are provided by the Minutes of the Council, or by
the Scrapbooks. For example, there is an inventory of clothing
from I 856, which shows just what articles parents must provide,
but does not really describe them.
Caps were ordered by the Committee of Council in 1856 (boys
were issued them by the Drill Sergeant) but caps with tassels
were provided for prefects.The same committee decided that
quill pens should be used, and the pupils 'taught how to mend
them'. Boys were not allowed outside the College grounds, unless
accompanied by a masterThey were confined to the playground,
on the site of the present Quad, except on half holidays
(Wednesday and Saturday) when they might take accompanied
walks or play sport on the Cricket Field (now Chapel Pitch) in
front. Hours of schooling were long, starting with prayers at 7.45
am, followed by breakfast and school from 9.00 until midday. After
dinner at I o'clock, lessons continued from 2.15 until 5 pm,
followed by tea and a fourth session of school between 7.30 and
8.30 pm. Bed time for the younger boys (eight or nine years old)
was immediately after evening prayer; at 9.00 pm.the Upper
School no later than 10.00 pm.There was no 'prep' in those days,
but lessons were actually taught in the evening. Most lessons were
in the 'Great Schoolroom', the present Masters' Common Room,
but there were three other classrooms, two at least on the Main
Corridor immediately adjoining the schoolroom.The third has
never been convincingly located but may have been further along
the corridor Lessons consisted of 'Latin, Greek, English, French, and
German, Writing, Arithmetic, Mathematics, and Natural Philosophy,
History and Geography Music, the Scriptures and the Prayer
Book' Occasional lectures were delivered on 'Literature and
Science1, but the Headmaster remarked that these too often
consisted of a lightning tour of the whole subject in the space of
an hour rather than an organised progression of study. In 857
instruments were bought to form a band. Rev.Thornton, who had
read Maths as well as Classics at Oxford, was much more
enthusiastic about the 'Physical Sciences' than one might have
suspected from his own classical education and religious vocation.
In 1858 he advocated a thorough, if voluntary, scheme for
instruction in Science, which was quite outstanding for its time.
Something must have been achieved since success in examination
at Apothcaries Hall was quite marked from these early years.
ROYAL MEDICAL BENEYOLC.I
rrymrnt hi, hnhtr *,0rr m*dr i* ti.
INVENTORY OF
- — • - Jacket*
3 —-_ : pairs of Trow.....
'
- Pairs of Shu..
. Pair of U-ath
~: Xifflit do.
r.iir- of ttw UcNimUc >w
»(a(r B." i-.-p.uV. »!i»il )•«• Hrot l-«k to hi. Hkt.-i.ti *iih.« one (atlnigbt
in.m«iutriv bt rrpU»l. Atid if no tvittr* be nx«ivcd by I'weiil.
rimicit Ilwt ilic h.i*n.

IGE, EPSOM.
.. .Another step is the
introduction of Physical
Science among our school
studies; not perhaps as
compulsory, but (for the
present at least) voluntary.
To force upon unwilling
boys the study of Physical
Science, would simply
retard their progress in
other branches, but there
are many who would look
upon such an employment
in the light of a recreation,
and would be glad of the
opportunity of spending
part of their leisure in
acquiring a knowledge
which will prove at once a
Headmaster's Report:
To the President and Council of the Royal Medical Benevolent College. July 29th, 1858
source of amusement and
an advantage to them. To
gain this end, the College
must be furnished with
philosophical apparatus.
We need in the first place a
chemical laboratory. The
little room over the porch,
now used as a box room,
would do very well for the
purpose: and should
another box room be
provided... it might be
appropriated. It would be
difficult for me to send you
an estimate of the expense
of fitting up a laboratory.
The preferable plan, would,
I think, be for you to
empower me to expend, at
my discretion, a certain
sum; you might rely on its
being laid out to the best
advantage. To prepare and
discuss an estimate would
take a considerable time;
but if empowered as I have
suggested, I have little
doubt I could get a class to
work in a fortnight or three
weeks from the
commencement of next
term. I should begin with
the study of Chemistry: but
we might in process of
time, (when we get more
room in the College,) form
a small museum of
Geology. Botany and
Natural History in general.
In addition to Chemistry, I
wish to turn the minds of
the pupils to the subject of
Astronomy. A more
agreeable and profitable
employment for a winter's
evening cannot be devised.
I therefore recommend the
purchase of a large
telescope and stand, with a
celestial globe, which I will
take under my care, and
will not fail to use for the
benefit of the inmates of
the College.
At first there was no organised sport.There is no formal record of the introduction
of football. Our only authority is a memory from an OE, written for the 'Epsomian'
of May 1883.This records that hockey had preceded it as the favourite winter sport,
that it started in I 857 or I 858 and that the first matches were in I 864 or I 865.
Football, as I knew it at
Epsom, was played in a
quite primitive method,
much like the hockey of
those days, which preceded
it in public favour. We were
ignorant alike of Rugby and
Association principles, and
we had no printed or
written rules. As many of us
played as wanted to - we
were divided into two equal
bodies by the process
known as 'choosing sides,'
and one or two each side
were selected to act as goalkeeper.
A fair catch entitled
to a free kick, and we were
generally satisfied with
driving the ball under,
instead of over, the bar. Nor
do I believe that any
alteration of this state of
things took place until 1864
or 1865, when Rugby Rules
of modified type were
adopted, and the matches
were for the first time
arranged with other schools
and clubs, and the
metropolitan hospitals. But
to return to the first football.
My readers will, 1 trust,
excuse me if I leave them
in doubt whether it arrived
in 1857 or 1858. None of
us seem to have conceived
the idea of clubbing
together and purchasing
such a means of enjoyment,
and the ball was not the
outcome of any
subscription of much
begrudged pocket-money,
but it was a formal gift to
the school by a member of
the College Council. The
day of its presentation was
one to be marked with red
in the annals of the College;
and the ceremony itself was
made as impressive as
possible. The whole School,
not quite so large as now,
was drawn up to form three
sides of a square, facing
inwards, while the fourth
side was incompletely
represented by authority, in
the shape of Members of
the Council, the Head
Master, Dr. Thornton, and
others. A few kindly words
were addressed to us, the
usual cheering followed,
and the ball, which was
very small according to
modern ideas, and
moreover globular in shape,
was handed over to one of
the big boys. We "stood
easy", we "broke", and then
we went for the ball. There
was no question of forming
sides, or of having a
properly constituted game,
but the whole school was
mad for a kick at the
unoffending sphere. Once it
was started we rushed after
it in a body, the big boys in
a dense mass ahead, and
behind them small, smaller
and smallest, in a gradually
widening and thinning
formation, much like the
trail of the great comet
which excited our boyish
wonder about that time. I
don't know how it
happened, whether the
constitution of the ball was
faulty, whether it ran
unconsciously against a
sharp piece of wood in the
spinney, or was
inadvertently stamped upon
by one of the heavier
weights, but the fact
remains that within a very
few minutes at the outside
that ball was a collapsed,
shrivelled, squashed mess,
like the Normandy pippin
of the English market...
(The Epsomian, May 1883)
page 25

O 1 I H 1 ROY A 1
-
4.2 Tfe infant Scfioof
fEvsom Coffege
Sept 16.62
Dear Sir,
1 fiave the pleasure to inform
you that at a meeting of the
cricket chid this evening, it was
proposed" and carried
unanimously to take this
opportunity outflanking you
most cordiaffy for your kind
interest and trouble bestcnved on
the ground and the c£u£> in
general 'ACC of us join in hoping
that you witt again, during the
coming season, take the same
trouble in promoting the
cricketing interests of the Coffege,
which we feet sure, would sadty
faff off, if deprived of the
advantage of your care and
patronage; ^ havepfeasure of
remaining, on faenaifof'the chtfa,
Yours sincerely
T.'A.OCdaker, rfon. Secy,
fEC.CC.
Accompanying it is a photograph,
presumably of the side of that year,
with bowler hats and striped shirts,
accompanied by Mr Jeffery
page 26
Cricket was probably introduced at about the same time.
As early as 856 Dr. Stilwell was appealing for funds to
create a cricket ground.The College Council gave £ 5, but
other donations were still being sought the year after In
1859 an area on the present golf course was hired from
the Lord of the Manor, which continued as the main
cricket ground for many years. By the early 860s
matches were probably being played.There exists a
delightful letter from the Hon. Secretary of the Epsom
College Cricket Club, thanking a master, Mr James Jeffery,
for his efforts for the club.
There was a covered playground on
the site of the present cricket nets,
close to the Chapel.This included
toilets and a fives court, which
survived until the present courts were
built in the 1890s and long after the
covered playground had been
demolished. With this was a 'giant's
stride1, a long pole with a rope
attached, that the younger boys could
swing around on. More formally,
physical instruction was taken under
the direction of Colour Sergeant
Cough, once of the Royal Marines,
who taught drill, gymnastics and

PROGRAMME OF THE ARRANGEMENTS
TO BK OBSERVED AT THE
OPENING OF THE CHAPEL
ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT COLLEGE, EPSOM,
On TUESDAY, J0LY llth,1857.
fencing and kept order in the playground and
lunch queue.
Most pupils boarded, though it is surprising to
find that there were always day pupils. While
'Exhibitioners' paid £40 per year to board, day
pupils paid only £ 15, £ 12 in the Lower School.
Boarding accommodation was more and more
crowded. In 860, for example, there were 39
boys crowded into the four main rooms of the
Warden's House (part of the present Cafeteria
and the accommodation above).Though masters
slept nearby, it must have been difficult to
maintain order after lights out. In 1858, Rev.
Thornton was keen to have a 'Dame's house'
erected near the College to relieve the situation
and, in fact, a Mrs Inverarity of South Street
began to take in pupils, who boarded with her
and were educated at day rates at the College.
This was not always an easy relationship, since
Mrs. Inverarity tended to blame the College for
difficulties occurring on the other side of Epsom.
in 1859, Rev. Frederick Pentreath, the Second
Master; began to lodge with her to maintain
order and soon took over the house, continuing
until he retired in 1862.This was the first of the
embryo houses that continued to have a
shadowy existence for many years and it was
the prototype for Wilson, built ten years later
An important part of the College was its
Chapel, opened in 1857 with the by now usual
fanfare of press coverage and attendant crowds.
By now the Exhibitioner controversy was at its
height and support was rather less than
expected, an indication is that staffing was
reduced from four mounted police, eight
ordinary constables and three detectives from
Scotland Yard to just five constables and one
detective. An Organist had been hired, the first
Music Master at the College, and the band of
the Royal Horse Guards was engaged.
There were difficulties in gaining the right to
celebrate Holy Communion, which was closely
guarded by the Vicar of Epsom. Despite the
intervention of the Bishop of Winchester an
arrangement could not be achieved. For the first
few years the Vicar exchanged with Rev,
Thornton, when Communion was to be
celebrated at the College, to the inconvenience
of both. Morning Prayers were held daily in the
Chapel from
1857 and it was
soon embellished
with stained glass.
The East
Window was
given by the
Honorary Local
Secretaries, who
had so greatly
helped the raising
of funds for the
College.The
West window
was given in
1862, after a
subscription was
raised among the
boys in memory
of Prince Albert,
who died in that
year Curiously it
was made by
one of the boys,
Francis Oldaker
The special train will leave London Bridge Station nt fen o'clock precisely. The
fares will be the same as by the ordinary trains.
No person ran be admitted to any part of the College Grounds or Buildings,
without a ticket.
Holders of pink tickets only will Ix; admitted to the Collew buildings prior to the
opening of the Chapel, half of the tickets to be retained by the holders, and given up on
entering the ChapeL
Ladies who have subscribed Fire guineas to the funds of the Chapel, will !>c
provided with sealed tickets, and will meet in a room specially provided for them.
The Council, Honorary Local Secretaries, and other holders of pink tickets, will
assemble in the School-room.
At eleven o'clock, the Boys of the School will be drawn up by the Drill Master in
front of the Entrance-porch.
The procession will then bo formed in the following order:
The Drill Master.
The Boys forming the Choir.
The rest of the School.
The Masters of the School.
The QlHciatimr Clergymen in Holies.
The Kight Rev. the Lord Bishop of Winchester.
The Ladies who have contributed to the Chapel Fund.
The Honorary Local Secretaries.
The night Hon. The Earl Manvers, President of the College, and Friends.
The Treasurer and Friends.
The Council of the College.
The Pensioners.
The Steward.
The Service will be the ordinary daily Service; the Chaunts as under:
Venite and Psalms . . . Rogcri, in O,
Te Deum . . . . Soycf, in ]>.
Jubilate . . . . . Unity, in F.
Anthem, " O, how amiable!" (Psalm Si) MiclMrdttm.
llymn," Come ye people," . . Anon.
At the conclusion of the Service the procession will form as before, and march to the Schoolroom,
where the prizes will be distributed, and speeches recited.
The Dfjedner will be at 3 o'clock in the Dining-hall. Tickets, which can be obtained nt
the Office, in Soho Square, price }iino shillings, must be taken prior to the 7th July.
After the D^je&iter a selection of glees will be performed by the Boys in the School-room.
,-„,,„ ^o^*„„,»,,*„„
Other windows
commemorated Mr Robert Forest, who had
established the Forest Scholarship with a bequest
of £5,000 to help boys through university A further
window was presented in memory of Mr Sterry a
Member of Council, who also left money for a
Divinity Prize.These last two windows still exist in
the present Chapel.
These first few years reflected institutional life in
many different ways. One area of the corporate life
of an institution such as the College is its reaction
to disasterThe first mention of sickness in the
College was occasioned by the sudden death of
William Clothier of heart disease in June 1856.
There followed epidemics of Ringworm in 1857,
Scarlatina in 858 and even a case of suspected
Typhus among the Pensioners. Henri Giraud, died,
aged Kin 1858 and in 859, Alexander Curling
died, drowning in the Mole under Box Hill, while
on a school outing.The College already had its
own sick room, staffed by the Matron and a hired
nurse when needed.There was constant
attendance from a Medical Officer; and a Hon.
Attending Surgeon was added by 860. Such
tragedies were part of the life of those days.
page 27

\ M I 1) I I A I
There is no doubt that the first year or two of the College were difficult ones,
and yet they were the foundation of success.The very disparate group of boys,
brought together as much through need as from their wish to be at the
College took a short while to turn into a school with 'spirit'. By 1858 Rev.
Thornton was reporting how pleased he was with the discipline of the school.
...The boys have been
singularly healthy during
the past term. Their
appearance struck
everyone who was
Headmaster's Report:
July 29th, 1858
(June 30th); and that not
only as regards their
happy and healthy looks,
but their generally
gentlemanly demeanour. I
noticing their
improvement; and when I
consider the very rough
material with which I
have had to deal, and the
to contend against, I
cannot but feel thankful at
the result of the labour
which my coadjutors and
myself have bestowed
present on Founders Day, cannot help myself evil influences I have had upon our charge.
page 28
SriSll; ^sS^Sf^JSSSS'i
M.A.
ii, tl».
unit «nW. and »ith coiwidmddc furir, ' I'" :"
pvcucni*»f Hac..
:.'.:•• "isi, . } T !- '•.': • ' i - , '*ill: !:.lniatk-*nd
other i«-rf»rnisui>-«. in tlw Kntram*
IW!, ui«fcr itw diiwtijnnr W. i:. L.nl,-*->.,!,
, .
wh. .>iiuint-d i(iTit.iiwi.« to join in tlie Colbw
, ..-
.
.. ...[ ,.• i! • c ". „•. , ;„-• :i -,-•. - ,•!.-
iwi.-d br * WiUunt .l|.[>Uv .< fir, » .»: V tha** » l« *, re oh»<
M !:*«'], tut *->,•.! U-lh*t- *U.j w^:, •!.,,};( :i,iin
„.:• 4- •, l!L,;r-( :L.-; r i,m ; «!:!. t! L-
Wi«at of ft U*nti;ul hn-l»li..Mi; *lt«r whx>h,
;,/ ,.Li ; ,i ->',.; -,.-,;•. MI. , - -. -;:- i. .•• •, -
(jr.iju-l' *-.n- .'. ir,-!. s . . %••• Ihi,- «,-,• s;,,.
.Hi llh . M,. .1!, ..! •',.- -: .» '{', .1 Ii i ''r-x.. -i,'
,.; J !•, .1 il •/ :: • • :•!>• - • • \ -...
,-,„ i ,!l;[;,;. ,: .*);• - • ... .% I-L. v ...
AVDTHE* AfnlDtT. — t"*H l.vciull uf t!i,-
c*fcU»tionor lU- >irt*.tvof Ii.k.rnwnn. mi.Kp-
*.y • .),*-
Ut"*) » tit.ii*r: *nd *l«-n the jirudiwor lu.t
l«k»l i c-kc in * prntUnun'j tut, liroiUrlv
otBmd, and lt >iu) tlM! Umi!. . hid ' TOJ
! i t
,., i.i.Aw'Li.N^l.f- i . . . - . .
U,irti«] .* UK- pupil, took p*rl, wJ tlul «i.1«
,, .; ;. r .' : • .." - •. A tr. !. r, !.,!!< ;.• .;'-.r-.' ii-.-i
i; >,,- :.. i ,i i .! i l iii !' i •'. --• :.;r 'j-i.h . • u-i.
moipowd M it *» i.'t nuny wicgm-loMdl o*
wool *ndfum, it a BuB>AtlT Ufbkd ap UiU
«ti-l Jdv. »-i,I «u 11* pnJate to » diiplay .,f
-,. ...--.. .•! . •...•:•,,< .y Mr. i: i':- A-'-, r.
oH*. DMIMXHW. rockett, fl7i»f-piBr,«», »hwU
!- -..- ii . .!,\ -.,> r. f ; . , . TI. . - ,:• S
•' si • ' . C.i... ;•: U.. ,.-!! . -'. t, ! ;"• i
gmn-ROt MnlUit« the hmnbkr ^ulbi *ttd
crmckm kt off by |«rtleoMi.Tl«tuT« »1 »*e
papik. flfund in thU pattta of il* mcmuri
CYtuinit'i wittrtJintih-ut: u»l the OiuUe (
-a 1') it * vari. ,..t!,-l nvket, whk-lt
*«li,-w,-,UTlr dirrctiun, «rai loaf rein
ii«ht. Sot lr- thtn in) ptrwn.
hu, in'., L it ••• - . .s :;..-' >!i -• i v in-
..!!; »:i..-' ;i..' ?; .;> i ;>- r 'iy-_-;.us: ;..:•' -
otUblUhneat »M eo^rfriri/ till-.! »n!i HWA.
iurvd «t«r;np
In the same report he was relating
the success of pupils, six boys
passing the preliminary examination
at Apothecaries Hall in additioo^to
the three, who had passed earlier in
the year These first successes were
to be built upon in the future, 12
boys being successful in the Royal
College of Surgeon's preliminary
exam in 1862 in addition to three
matriculating at London University.
That the Headmaster was
interested in far more than
academic success can be seen in the
way he insisted on a high 'tone'. In
859 he had successfully insisted
upon high intellectual, moral and
physical standards for candidates to
the school. Perhaps the growth of
cricket, football and other sports
helped to instil standards of
teamwork and moral conduct.
Certainly, on Founder's Day 1860,
Rev.Thornton was speaking of
muscular Christianity and promising
a Rifle Corps. Discussions on this in
the College Council dragged on for
two years, a sub-Committee being
appointed to consider it, the
support coming from the boys and
the Headmaster but finally it was
postponed indefinitely. By 1862 the
Headmaster was advocating cricket
as the creator of 'tone' and later
that same year of 'tone1 and
gymnastics.The whole environment
of the school was calculated to
seclude boys from unpleasant
influences (the locked gates and
supervision, the prohibition of boys
speaking to the Pensioners) to
exclude those of non-professional
classes (the decision of the
Educational Committee in April
1857) while housing the boys in
buildings that spoke clearly of the
medieval chivalry associated with
the novels of Sir Walter Scott and
of patriotism. An inspection of the
carved arch-springs in the College
Dining Hall (now Main Hall) will
show a symbol for each of the
countries of Great Britain.

The gothic theme was to be continued in the
buildings of 862 and 863 and into the 870s
as an expression of deeply conservative and
patriotic values.That this related to the College
Council's wishes for the values it wanted to be
taught cannot be in doubt. College boys would
read Malory and Scott, Shakespeare and possibly
Kenelm Digby's The Broadstone of Honour',
that they would be true patriots and chivalrous
knights worked well with the clear intention to
educate boys for medicine, a more selfless
vocation than most.
Arch-spring in Main Hall
The Main Staircase
The Sterry Memorial Window by Francis Oldaker
jase 29

4.4 Change and (jjrowth
A most difficult problem was the limitation of the benefits of the College.
Only 20 Pensioners had been housed in the College by I860, rather than
the 100 first promised.
Pressure on the school was intense, with 100
boys projected in 855, it had already grown to
150 without any new accommodation. Forty boys
were on the Foundation, but in 1860 only four
places would be free to be filled by election. In
addition, in 861, came a report by Dr Aldis,
which so greatly irritated the Council that they
refused to receive it. He told them about the
inadequacy of some of the College facilities in a
very public way when the Council was more than
aware of the problems.
page 30
The Council of the Royal
Medical Benevolent
College appear to have
fared neither better nor
worse than other people do
in their choice of an
architect and in the
adaptation of their building
to the wants and health of
the inmates. No building of
the size is ever reared
without some sanitary
defect, nor do we suppose
that things will be
otherwise till the entire
subject of drainage,
ventilation, light, space and
other appliances for health,
are thought equally
important with a
picturesque site and
architectural
embellishments. It is not
surprising, therefore, that
complaints have been
raised as to the healthiness
of the College, that the
question of drainage seems
to have been postponed till
rather a late date in the
arrangements, and that the
system of cesspools
provided at first should
have required alteration,
Medical Journal
which was, as we are
informed, effected by the
well-known engineer Mr.
Bazalgette. But, as we learn
from statements which
have been submitted to us,
the College was still
considered capable of
improvement in a sanitary
sense. One parent, at least,
wrote to the Managers, and
was by no means
comforted by an assurance
he received from the
venerable President, that
"fifty years' experience had
convinced him that there
was no connexion between
cesspools and disease." At
last, on the occurrence of a
second (or third?) outbreak
of scarlatina, one or more
members of the Managing
Committee invited Dr.
Aldis to visit and inspect
the College, and give a
report on its present state,
with suggestions (if any)
for its improvement. Dr.
Aldis accordingly
accompanied the Visiting
Committee in an inspection
on March 12, and sent in a
report, which now lies
April 6th. 1861
before us, and of which the
pith is this...
The disease, therefore, did
not originate in the College,
but "there are
circumstances," says Dr.
Aldis. "connected with the
construction of the building
which would favour the
spreading of any epidemic
when once admitted." The
accommodation for the sick
is insufficient, and a sick
ward, or infirmary, is
necessary. Some of the
boys' bedrooms in the
Warden's house are dirty,
and require the paper to be
stripped off and paint or
colour substituted, as
cleaner, and less liable to
harbour vermin. The
ventilation should be
improved by providing
channels for the entrance of
air, and an Arnott's valve
for its exit. The dormitories
in the College are clean and
in good order, except that
the ventilation in two of
them might be improved,
and in none should
bedsteads be placed before
the fireplaces, so as to
hinder the current of air.
The schoolroom is utterly
inadequate for the wants of
the scholars, there being
not more than 200 cubic
feet of space for each boy,
according to the data
furnished by the architect,
Mr. Elkington. "On
entering the room," says
Dr. Aldis, "I perceived a
most nauseating acid smell,
which always occurs in
overcrowded dwellings and
is favourable to the origin
and spreading of zymotic
disease. When we consider
that so many human beings
are confined within this
limited space several hours
of the day, and that many
of them sit there from
seven until nine in the
evenings at their lessons,
inhaling the pestilential air
combined with the products
of combustion of twelve
gas lights, it is only
surprising that some severe
malady has not appeared
sooner..."
Medical Journal, April 6th,
1861

In fact, the College had borrowed £7,000 in
1858 to help them to increase pensions and
allow more boys on the Foundation.This would
not be paid off until 1861, Meanwhile the
pressing need for more accommodation had
become evident and an appeal had been begun
in I 859, while the Council was still trying to
remedy the defects in the first buildings.
Chimneys were now unstable and windows let
in drafts. Indeed so many complaints were
made that the architect, Edward Clifton, had
resigned in 1859.The position of the College,
exposed to the winds of the North Downs,
had made worse the problem of poor quality
materials resulting from the constant effort of
the College Council to stretch their resources
to the limit But the famous Mr Bazalgette had
been called in to diagnose the problem of
drains in 858, George Elkington succeeded
Clifton as Architect in 859 and the buildings
were gradually put right
Financially the College was still in trouble. In
1862 a report by Mr Ward, a Member of the
Council, had pointed out that, if plans to extend
went ahead, the implications for the financial
soundness of the College would be very
worrying. Since so many were on the
Foundation and the others were educated at
no profit, the College's responsibilities would
rise beyond their ability to finance them.The
only way out was suggested again by the
headmaster in a report advocating that many of
the extra places created by expansion should
be given to boys of non-medical parents, who
j should pay more.
Thus the fees for 'Exhibitioners' could be
lowered and 'Foundationers' could be
increased.Though this scheme took some time
to come into operation, it was put into effect
ensuring the future of the College but at the
cost of reducing its 'medical' nature.
Victoria contributed towards the new Albert
Memorial Wing, the foundation of which was
laid by John Propert in I 862 (now part of
White House), Meanwhile a new schoolroom,
capable of accommodating 300 pupils had been
opened (Big School) in time for Michaelmas
Term I 862, complete with an additional range
of classrooms and a sitting room for masters.
This makes up the ground floor of the present
English Department, to which a first floor was
later added. Additional dormitories would soon
follow on the first floor of a new wing (above
the present Common Room Dining Room and
IT Department).
The first mention of the name 'Epsom College'
that can be found at present is on the cover of
the Headmaster's Report to the Counci in
858. Before that the name is the 'Royal
Medical Benevolent College' on in one instance
only, The College, Epsom'.The change of name
would stee upon the College slowly, being
suggested openly in I 862 as a necessary
change to attract fee-paying non-medical
parents but not becoming 'official' for another
50 years. More and more the school called
itself 'Epsom College', while the governing
body, the Counci, remained 'Benevolent'.
In this first few years the College had grown
from an orphanage into a recognisable Publicc
School. It had reinvented its buildings, had
doubled its pupils, had doubled its
Foundationers and had overtaken the Asylum
as the major partner on the College site.
Problems had been overcome and firm
foundations
Against this background, expansion was being
pressed forward by both John Propert and the
Headmaster By 186 works were in progress
ror new accommodation for four pensioners
and 50 boys when Prince Albert died.The
I College remembered his kindness in opening it
and felt that a memorial was in order Queen
,page 31