Book about the history of CH?

[YadaYada]

Hi,

Are there any books on the history of CH? I am sure there must be! We are interested particularly in the period since the school moved to Horsham. My son is doing some research and wants a book like this. He has visited in the museum and read with interest some of the threads on here.
Thanks for any info.

Liz

[Mrs C.]

There are one or two on sale in tuckshop at the moment......

[ailurophile]

Has Will enquired at the school library? I imagine they must hold the definitive collection!

A friend of mine has a lovely book on CH, given to her by her presenting governor when her first child joined the school - a real 'coffee table' book, full of splendid photographs and interesting history. I think it was published to commemorate the 450th anniversary so presumably is not still available to buy; I've certainly never seen copies for sale anywhere, and I would love to have one! Perhaps CH Enterprises might think about issuing a reprint as a fundraiser, I'm sure it would sell like hot cakes to current parents.

[Angela Woodford]

Does your friend's lovely coffee-table book have anything Hertford in it? If so, I'd be interested myself.

None the less, it sounds a super book.

[sejintenej]

Has Will enquired at the school library? I imagine they must hold the definitive collection!

A friend of mine has a lovely book on CH, given to her by her presenting governor when her first child joined the school - a real 'coffee table' book, full of splendid photographs and interesting history. I think it was published to commemorate the 450th anniversary so presumably is not still available to buy; I've certainly never seen copies for sale anywhere, and I would love to have one! Perhaps CH Enterprises might think about issuing a reprint as a fundraiser, I'm sure it would sell like hot cakes to current parents.

Liz: I presume you are talking about 1902 and not 1970's when the two merged? I know that there is a huge amount available on the web about earlier moves like the foundation of Hertford, Hoddesden etc so I would guess that a determined search would find something. Also all the records of the school up to 1971 are in the London Metropolitan Library for reading only, free access IF you can get there.
An idea; get the names of famous ex-pupils of that era and see what they wrote in biographies etc. Remember that Google is not the only search engine and some of the others have different targets.

There was a thick one published at about the time of the quart-centenary covering the entire history up to that time. there is also a small book which is more the 1800's - my daughter has half-inched my copies so I can't remember the exact names.

I found the following on a Russian based site (of all places!)

The move in 1902 to the convert|1200|acre|km2 at Christ’s Hospital was greeted with much consternation among Christ’s Hospital Governors, being at the behest of a Government commission. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was moved to say "I am one of those who are perfectly prepared to go with the spirit of the age in which we live, but I confess that I am also one of those who do not love change for change’s sake. To upset an old and long standing institution... is a very dangerous experiment to try." Nevertheless the 'experiment' was to work spectacularly well, and Christ's Hospital now enjoys the benefits of the gentle Sussex countryside whilst being (in terms of campus size) the largest school in the country.

His could be a very interesting opus.


Good luck to him

[YadaYada]

I don't know why we didn't think of the school library! I shall send him over....and to the tuck shop too....

thanks for your replies....it is so much more satisfying than browsing the Internet!

[Mid A 15]

The Christ's Hospital Book By G.A.T. Allan Revised By JE Morpurgo covers things from 1552 to the merger in 1985 or just before.

I'd be amazed if the School Library didn't have a copy.

[Vièr Bliu]

The Christ's Hospital Book, published 1953, is a historical anthology (and has a CH bibliography at the back). 426pp - and nearly all of them fascinating. You can track down a reasonably-priced copy via http://www.abebooks.co.uk (e.g.http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDet ... D0%26y%3D0)

But GAT Allan (revised Morpurgo) is the best basic history though (although there are annoying lapses).

[michael scuffil]

GAT Allan's book "Christ's Hospital" was written in 1939 but updated by JE Morpurgo in 1984.

"The Christ's Hospital Book" was written for the Quatercentenary in 1953, and has some interesting essays, but it's not really what you're looking for.

Looking in Amazon, there are one or two books I've never heard of...

[Vièr Bliu]

Looking in Amazon, there are one or two books I've never heard of...

Part of the phenomenon of print-on-demand. Now that many out-of-copyright books in libraries have been digitised and made available for download, there's a mini-industry in marketing these as books for sale, then printing off these texts, and slapping a cover on.

You'll find many of these titles for free download via Google Books, e.g.:

• Recollections of a blue-coat boy, or, A view of Christ's Hospital
• A history of the royal foundation of Christ's Hospital
• Christ's Hospital: recollections of Lamb, Coleridge, and Leigh Hunt
• Annals of Christ's hospital, by a blue [E. Dring].

[Foureyes]

The sad fact is that there is no proper, fully comprehensive history of C.H. covering the entire field, analysing why C.H. has triumphed when so many others have failed, what obstacles it has had to overcome (mostly money!) and how it has overcome them, its relationship with the Royal Family and the City, what its Old Blues have achieved, its relations with Freemasonry, etc, etc.The 1953 book is excellent in its way, but is basically an assembly of anecdotes and short essays placed in chronological order. This is NOT a criticism of the authors/editors - they wanted to produce a worthy memento of the 400th anniversary at an affordable price, and that is exactly what they did. Probably the best overall picture of the school is "C.H. in 2000" but even that does not cover the nitty-gritty historical aspects.

[Fjgrogan]

That sounds to me like a niche in the market just waiting to be filled by any Old Blue with the requisite skills!

[Foureyes]

That sounds to me like a niche in the market just waiting to be filled by any Old Blue with the requisite skills!

I agree that it should be done but it isn't that easy! First, it would take a lot of time: 5-6 years, probably - don;t forget it is a huge subject spanning 450+ years. Secondly, it would involve a lot of research, much of it in London at the Public Record Office, Guildhall Library and British Library. For someone living outside London that would be expensive. Thirdly, the author/s would need to be paid - writers and their families need to eat! Finally, you would need to prove to a potential publisher that it would attract sufficient sales to make it commercially viable. Alternatively, CH could decide to take it on as a private publication - where would the money come from?

It is possible that if the book was to be sufficiently attracitve and generate suffcient sales, then the project could well pay for itself. But the seed money would be needed in the first place.

[Vièr Bliu]

The 1953 book is excellent in its way, but is basically an assembly of anecdotes and short essays placed in chronological order.

It only claims to be a "literary celebration" and a "historical anthology" - not a history. As stated in the acknowledgments: "The Editorial Committee... trust that their successors in the year 20153 will produce a sequel to the Christ's Hospital Book, in which the defects of the present volume will be repaired and whatever it possesses of merit enlarged."

[Jo]

The 1953 book is excellent in its way, but is basically an assembly of anecdotes and short essays placed in chronological order.

It only claims to be a "literary celebration" and a "historical anthology" - not a history. As stated in the acknowledgments: "The Editorial Committee... trust that their successors in the year 20153 will produce a sequel to the Christ's Hospital Book, in which the defects of the present volume will be repaired and whatever it possesses of merit enlarged."

No hurry then?