Christ’s Hospital and Hal’s Early Schooldays

Abstract

To enter Christ’s Hospital as a LCC scholar, more than academic merit was required. The boy had to be suitable for a boarding school life and the school had to be assured that Hal’s parents satisfied its stringent, low income requirements. In his application, Harry Gray had indicated that his only annual income was a salary of ₤180 and that he had no investments. Also, he stated that he paid an annual rental of ₤27 for his house and that his occupation was telegraphist. These declarations were confirmed by countersignatures of the minister, two churchwardens and three householders of his parish. Further, he signed a prepared statement thatThe school grounds and buildings were spacious and modern (all having been newly constructed for the transfer of the boys’ school in 1902 from its original site in London). The school’s centre is a large imposing quadrangle with a Chapel, Concert Hall (“Big School”), the Science School and Dining Hall along its sides (Fig. 2.1). In the Chapel, there are 16 large (14 × 8ft or 4.3 × 2.4 m) and most striking panels, the work of Frank Brangwyn. They denote scenes from the History and Expansion of Christianity and impressed the Duke of Windsor, although they elicited one severe criticism from him, which is mentioned later. These paintings were acquired mainly through the urging of Professor Henry Armstrong, whose important indirect influence on Hal is described below.