The
Unofficial Website
The College of Jesus
After the
accession of Henry VII in 1485, Rotherham seems to have been a prosperous place under the early Tudor monarchs in part due to the College of Jesus. The college was founded in 1483 by
Thomas Rotherham, Archbishop of York, who was deprived of office in the reign of Henry VII for his support of Elizabeth Woodville, widow of Edward IV. For a short biography please visit
onsite at Rotherham Town & Borough >> Famous People from Rotherham >> Thomas Rotherham.
The College was built on a site in the centre of town on what is now Effingham Street. This is now covered by part of the Woolworths store and what used to be the College Inn when I was
a kid (About 19 nought dot) and is now a bakery and a mobile telephone shop. The College was dissolved in 1547 under the Act for Suppression of Chantries and Gilds in the reign of
Edward VI. The value of freehold endowments was about £130 less expenses of nearly £8 (£127 less expenses £20), and goods valued at £31 (£54)
together with a considerable amount of plate (£247) - there are two different valuations.
The last Provost of the College was Robert Purseglove, Suffragen Bishop of Hull. The Grammar Master was Thomas Snell, the Singing Master was Robert Cade and the Writing Master was John Addy. The site of the College was acquired by the Earl of Shrewsbury.
Thomas Snell was retained as Master of the Grammar School and his salary was paid by the Receiver of the Court of Augmentations until 1555 during the reign of Queen Mary. No payments were then made and the Grammar School was was maintained by the Town. By 1561 the Master, still Thomas Snell, appealed for the payment of his unpaid stipend and the school was re-established by Elizabeth I.
By 1583 the school had moved out of the college buildings into a property described as a 'sorry house' meaning it was not in very good condition, as the Earl of Shrewbury intended to redevelop the College buildings. However by 1590 there was great concern about the buildings of the old College of Jesus as chimneys had fallen in and brick walls decayed.
The school continued through the years although few records of it remain. It eventually became the boys' grammar school and then the Thomas Rotherham 6th Form College.
According to one account from the 1820s "Here (Rotherham) is a Free Grammar School, founded in 1584, by Laurence Woodnett, and Anthony Collins, Esqrs. formerly
of London. The School is open to the boys of the town indefinitely free of expense, for classics only."
You pay your money - you take your choice!