The Old Grammar School Project
Our Journey
About Us
Welcome to The Old Grammar School, a historic treasure nestled in the heart of our community—proudly referred to as the "Cradle of English Art." For centuries, since 1664, this property has stood as a symbol of creativity and culture, and we are honored to carry that legacy forward.
During the challenging times of the pandemic, we remained committed to preserving the property, ensuring it remained a beacon of hope and support for our community. We opened our doors to care workers, offering respite retreats, and hosted health and wellness groups to foster healing and mental wellbeing. In addition, we welcomed international postgraduate students and their families, helping them integrate into the community, particularly in care work, supporting the NHS and local care services.
As we look to the future, we are excited to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Sir Joshua Reynolds' birth in 2023, a key milestone for both the village and our mission. This celebration will highlight the importance of this property, a place intrinsically linked to the history of English Art, and we are thrilled to share it with the public during this special time.
We are immensely proud of our role in maintaining and breathing new life into this historic property, ensuring it was liveable and functional for the community, even through the darkest days of the pandemic. Our efforts kept the building from falling into disrepair and allowed it to continue serving as a hub of community support for those in need.
Our Mission
Looking beyond the pandemic, our vision remains focused on reviving this exceptional property as an Art and Music Community Hub. We aim to collaborate with like-minded partners to bring this vision to life and elevate the property's national and international standing as the "Cradle of English Art."
Join us as we continue our journey to honor the past, support the present, and inspire the future through Art, Culture, and Community.
Building on a Storied Past
The School
The Old Grammar School, a grade II listed historic building, referred to as "the best Jacobian building West of Bristol" was built in 1664.
It housed Hele’s School which was meant for charity yet most of the local gentry sent their children to the school. Many renowned historical personages of the art world have come out of the school.
The School was possibly designed by the architect of Charles Church, Plymouth. A cloister of arches and columns decorated in contrasting bands of lime-stone and granite, supports the schoolroom. It has five large mullioned windows.
Above the schoolroom door is a small gallery where the Headmaster could stand to watch his pupils at work. The School is referred to by the Devon historian, W.G. Hoskins, who says, "Few schools in England can have such rich associations in the history of painting, but few towns in England can have been so un-aware of their greatest son".
Events
In 1973, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Reynolds' birth, the Civic Association, in conjunction with Plympton Grammar School, arranged various celebrations including the donation of wrought iron gates to the old School. They were ceremonially opened by Sir Thomas Monnington, the President of the Royal Academy.
- Freddie & Audrey Mills
Notable Alumni
Other notable pupils who also became artists include James Northcote (1746- 1831), Benjamin Haydn (1786-1846) and Charles Lock Eastlake (1793-1865).
Another former pupil was Jack Russell, the famous hunting parson, and breeder of the terrier. He became, as he said, "Cock of the walk", after beating, in a fight, Bulteel, the son of a well-known local family.
With continued growth in numbers, Hele’s School moved out of Plympton St. Maurice in 1937 to its present site in Stone Barton.
- Freddie & Audrey Mills
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