The original Palmers school was a small building shown in the engraving above to the right of Grays Parish Church, the gift of William Palmer of Grays, who died in 1711, for the education of poor children. It seems that this, the first school may have been moved at some point, the drawing showing that the building was adjacent to the church but was later moved further west nearer the church path possibly because of the construction of Grays railway station. This first Palmers school measured just 20ft by 18ft.
Drawing of Palmers second School in Orsett Road, Grays.
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Later Palmers moved to the corner of Grays High St. and Orsett Rd. in the mid 1800's adjacent to a pubic house, now also demolished called "The Green Man". The architects original proposal was to cost £193 which was considered to be too expensive. The second estimate was for £144 7s which was approved on the 4th August 1848, additional fittings brought the total to £165 11s. The contractors Alfred Cribb, a bricklayer from Grays and a builder and undertaker from Orsett, William Binder. It is thought that where possible, building materials from the first school were incorporated in the second. This, second Palmers school was comparatively short lived as in 1874 another was to open...................
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Map of Grays Town 1862-64 showing the position of Palmers second School. |
