Tower and Town, October 2017 (view the full edition)The St Peter’s School BuildingPamela Horril on what was then Marlborough Grammar School
We students were proud of our building, built in 1904 with its coeducational status emphasised by the two front entrances, headed 'BOYS' and 'GIRLS'. 
The MGS building today stands on the site of the 1214 Medieval Hospital of St. John. No teaching took place there although it did in many Medieval Hospitals. By 1572 it was called 'The School'. The first Master of the school was Mr Gyll. According to the records he received an annual salary of £13.6 shillings and 8d (£13.33 in new money). In 1577 the old hospital building was demolished and the next school was built for £112.
In 1791, due to the popularity of this Marlborough Free School, the corporation replaced this building with a new red brick building at a cost of £1,428. In 1816 the present school bell was recast in the Aldbourne Foundry, now long closed. The inscription on the bell reads:-
LAWES A.M. 1816
That building was replaced in 1904 by the one that still stands here today, and has become a well-loved landmark in the town. This building and its equipment cost approximately £6,000. The County Council contributed £1,500, Marlborough Rural District Council £500, Pewsey, Ramsbury and Hungerford Rural District Councils gave £250 each. The further £2,500 was paid by the Governors.
The foundation stone was laid on August 1st 1904 by the Marquis of Aylesbury. Extensions were added in the 1930's.BY J. WELLS ALDBOURNE 
Helped by Elizabeth Edge and my sister Alison, I was privileged to unveil a second stone to mark the school's 450th anniversary in 2000. This was arranged by the old Student Association Committee under Mr Dennis Lavis. Pamela Horril |