Dunstable Grammar School

Dunstable Grammar School was a grammar school in the market town of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. Opened in 1888, it was closed in 1971.

Dunstable Grammar School buildings, now used by Ashton Middle School

The site is now home to residential flats and apartments.

## Foundation

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Dunstable Grammar School was established by the Trustees of the Almshouse Charity created by the Will of Frances Ashton. Hence the inscription on the building which says:

> Dunstable Grammar School Founded A.D. 1728 By Mrs. Frances Ashton Built A.D. 1887.

## Construction

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New school buildings were constructed in 1887 on the northern side of Dunstable for the Trustees of Frances Ashton's charity, and in 1888 the school opened with 49 pupils. The first headmaster was L. C. R. Thring, of the Thring family of Uppingham which included the educationist Edward Thring (1821-1887), headmaster of Uppingham School. By 1917, the school had grown to 67 boarders and 100 day boys. A school library was built in memory of the former pupils who died in the Boer War and the Second World War, and a memorial in the library commemorated the names of the sixty-two boys who gave their lives, including Ashton Edward Thring, the only son of the school's first headmaster.[1] and the Victoria Cross winner, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Henderson.[2]

## Closure

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The school remained in its purpose-built home from 1888 until 1971, when it was closed with the coming of the new comprehensive system of education. The remaining schoolteachers and pupils moved to a new school at the opposite end of the town, the Manshead Upper School (now Manshead CE Academy).

## Use of the buildings

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The original Grammar School building was modernised and since 1973 has housed the Ashton Middle School, for children aged nine to thirteen.

## Notable former pupils

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* Mike Bannister, commanded the final Concorde commercial flight from New York to London, 24 October 2003
* Nigel Benson, author, Dunstable in Detail is a standard reference for the town and includes details about the Grammar School
* Richard Cabut
* Gary Cooper, (known as Frank Cooper while at school), actor and starred in many Hollywood films, e.g. High Noon (1952)
* Graeme Paul Knowles, Dean of St Paul's from 2007 to 2011
* Sam Kydd, actor who appeared in many films and on TV (e.g. as Mr Walton in the UK soap-opera Crossroads)
* Kevin McCloud, TV presenter, Grand Designs
* Alfred Morcom (1885–1952), cricketer and medical doctor
* Norman Morris (1920-2008), professor of medicine and humanitarian who revolutionized maternity care in the UK
* Khawaja Nazimuddin, second Prime Minister of Pakistan (1951-1953), visited his old school dormitory in 1952
* William Willis, Liberal MP for Colchester from 1880-5

## References

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1. ^ Dunstable School at Lost Generation Website Support Materials
2. ^ History at dunstableschool.co.uk (G. G. Henderson appears on the memorial)

## External links

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* Dunstable School Old Boys' Association website
* Dunstable School website

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Schools in Bedfordshire1

Secondary|

* All Saints Academy
* Bedford Academy
* Bedford Free School
* Biddenham International School
* Cardinal Newman Catholic School
* Castle Newnham School
* Cedars Upper School
* The Chalk Hills Academy
* Challney High School for Boys
* Challney High School for Girls
* Daubeney Academy
* Denbigh High School
* Etonbury Academy
* Goldington Academy
* Harlington Upper School
* Houstone School
* Icknield High School
* Kempston Academy
* Lealands High School
* Lea Manor High School
* Lincroft Academy
* Manshead CE Academy
* Mark Rutherford School
* Putteridge High School
* Queen Elizabeth School
* Queensbury Academy
* Redborne Upper School
* St Thomas More RC School
* Samuel Whitbread Academy
* Sandy Secondary School
* Sharnbrook Academy
* Stockwood Park Academy
* Stopsley High School
* Stratton Upper School
* Vandyke Upper School
* Wixams Academy
* Wootton Upper School

Private|

* Bedford Girls' School
* Bedford Greenacre Independent School
* Bedford Modern School
* Bedford School

Special|

* The Chiltern School
* Grange Academy
* Ivel Valley School
* Oak Bank School
* Ridgeway School
* St John's School
* Weatherfield Academy
* Woodlands Secondary School

Sixth form and
FE colleges|

* Barnfield College
* Bedford College
* The Bedford Sixth Form
* Central Bedfordshire College
* Kimberley College
* Luton Sixth Form College
* Shuttleworth College
* Stella Mann College

Former|

* Alban Church of England Academy
* Ashton Middle School
* Bedford High School
* Dame Alice Harpur School
* Dunstable Grammar School
* Rabia School
* UTC Central Bedfordshire

1includes schools in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton.

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Bedfordshire County Cricket Club

* Bedfordshire County Cricket Club
* Bedfordshire Women

Players|

* List A players
* Category:Bedfordshire cricketers

Grounds|

| Current grounds|

* Wardown Park, Luton
* Ampthill Park
* The Vale, Flitwick
* Lancot Park, Dunstable
* Southill Park Cricket Club
* Bedford Modern School Ground
* Bedford School

|

Previous grounds|

* Dunstable Grammar School Ground
* Bell Close, Leighton Buzzard
* Bedford County School Ground
* Luton Hoo Park
* WH Allen's Sports Ground, Biddenham
* Goldington Road, Bedford
* Goldington Bury, Bedford
* Southill Park
* Bull Pond Lane, Dunstable
* Vauxhall Motors Ground, Luton
* The Pyghties, Henlow
* Grange Lane, Cople
* The Vale, Westoning
* (Full list of grounds)

Captains|

* List of Bedfordshire County Cricket Club captains

Records|

* Bedfordshire List A cricket records

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