ACK WORTH

SCHOOL CATALOGUE;

BEING A

LIST OF ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS

Educated at that knstitution,

FROM ITS COMMENCEMENT IN 1779, TO THE PRESENT PERIOD.

COMPILED FROM THE OFFICIAL REGISTERS.

LONDON:

HARVEY AND DARTON,

GRACECHURCH STREET.

1831.

ADVERTISEMENT.

It would be quite a waste of time to attempt an analysis of the feelings of interest, with which an Ackworth Scholar will receive and refer to, the present volume. To him, such a delineation would be useless, and by few others would it be understood. The manner in which the annunciation of the work has been received, forms a very satisfactory proof, that, among the causes which gave rise to its publication, those feelings were not incorrectly estimated; and confers a pledge, that this apparently dry production will not be unacceptable to those for whom it was principally designed.

It must be unnecessary to remark, that, in a List of Names, like the present, perfect orthographical accuracy cannot be attained. The incongruities exhibited by the numerous Maps and Gazetteers which have been consulted, render this almost impossible in respect to the names of small Villages or Hamlets: and the names of Individuals and Families, where the authorities were doubtful, could not be settled by any other rule, than probability. Pains, however, have been taken to render the work as correct as possible.

The short opportunity afforded for the reception of Subscribers' names, may, it is feared, have deprived many of the means of procuring the Catalogue on the Subscription terms. Yet the number of Subscribers encouraged a larger edition than was originally intended and these circumstances render it proper, materially to lower the proposed price to Non-Subscribers. The book may be had at Ackworth School, and at 86, Houndsditch, London; and all country Booksellers can procure it at any time from Harvey and Darton.

This small work may possibly fall into the hands of some persons little acquainted with the Institution to which it relates. For the information of these, is inserted the following slight sketch of its history, &c., extracted, with slight alteration, from a descriptive sheet, accompanying a line Engraving of the School, which was published a few years since.*

Ackworth School is situate between the villages of High and Low Ackworth, three miles south of Pontefract, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The building is of freestone, obtained from the neighbourhood; and it was erected in 1757, 1758, and 1759, as an appendage to the Foundling Hospital in London. It cost £13,000; which sum was defrayed, partly by voluntary subscriptions, and partly by aid of parliament. The house was applied to its original purpose, for twelve years, and afterwards remained unoccupied till 1777. In this year, it was purchased, with eighty-four acres of land, by Dr. John Fothergill and three others, for £7,000; and in 1779, was opened as a public school for children of the Society of Friends, to which purpose it has been ever since applied. Various additions have been made to the buildings, and the landed estate has been increased to about 242 acres; the whole property being now estimated at about £30,000. The affairs of the institution are under the immediate management of the superintendent, resident at the school; but all matters of importance are referred to a committee of twenty-eight friends, in the vicinity of Ackworth, and to an

*Copies of this Engraving may be had of Harvey and Darton, and at Ackworth School, prints 5s. India paper 6s.