origin of marching

[LongGone]

When and why did the tradition of marching to meals begin? Was it when the school moved to Horsham?

[Mid A 15]

When and why did the tradition of marching to meals begin? Was it when the school moved to Horsham?

I've no answer to your question I'm afraid but in searching for one I came across the link below which may be of interest anyway.

http://www.victorianlondon.org/educatio ... spital.htm

[Chrissie Boy]

When and why did the tradition of marching to meals begin? Was it when the school moved to Horsham?

I think it's a gay thing, isn't it?

But back in the 16th Century nobody had thought of Mardi Gras-style gay carnival costumes yet, so the boys had to dress up as penguins instead.

Am I right?

[kerrensimmonds]

I bet Clifford Jones or Ken Mansell in the Museum will know - I'll ask tomorrow

[kerrensimmonds]

Not sure this is a definitive answer to the original question! The CH Museum has published a number of booklets, of which two might have some guidance on this question - 'Postcards' and 'Customs and Traditions'. There is also Ken Mansell's definitive oevre on 'CH in the Victorian Era'. All are available from the Museum/the Counting House.
In terms of getting somewhere close to the question, we know that formal marching drill was introduced in 1858, while the Band was formed first in 1868. Questions remain! a) Was the drill introduced because earlier marching into meals was so bad? b) Did the marching into meals only start after the Band had been formed?
Either way
i) marching into meals almost certainly pre-dated the move to Horsham
ii) the 'small boys' band at Hertford was in existence before the mid Victorian era and I would guess must have supported both the boys and girls marching into meals. Certainly, when I was at the girls' school in the 1950's/60's, we marched into meals, from our Houses, and without the benefit of any band.
Hope this is helpful....

[jhopgood]

I have the book "Christs´s Hospital in Photographs", with photos from both London and Horsham. There are no dates, but one from London is entitled "Lunch Parade with the Tower of St Sepulchre-without-Newgate in the background", and another "Boys on Lunch Parade in "Hall Play"" This latter includes the Band, (about 40 strong). The introduction says that there are thousands of photos in the Horsham Collection, probably now in the museum, so maybe they can date the photos.

[Foureyes]

I have always thought that marching to meals was a brilliant idea, since it ensured that 800+ pupils arrived at the dining hall and passed through two very narrow doorways in an orderly way.
As a matter of interest, the business of marching in fours and then "forming two deep" is now unique to Christ's Hospital, but was, in fact, the way the British Armed Forces marched as a matter of routine for many years. At some time, I believe about the 1920s, the Army noticed that the rest of the world marched in 'threes' and changed. For some reason Housie ignored this change, presumably because it has been doing many things since 1553 and saw no reason to follow the example of an Army whose oldest regiment dates back only as far as the 1660s!
Second obscure fact. The drum majors at Housie are the only people in Britain who are permitted, as a matter of routine, to salute without wearing a headdress.
Third obscure fact. There is a record of a band of 'bluecoat boys' playing fifes and drums leading a parade of trained bands (i.e., equivalent to the later Home Guard) through the City of London during the Civil War.This suggests that the school band is very much older than is generally thought, although its existence may not have been continuous.
David

[Katharine]

Thank you David, I love your erudite contributions, they help me to realise what a special school CH is.