History
The school was founded between 1235–1256, probably nearer to the former, and was later endowed as a free school by John Gardyner. The first definite mention of the old grammar school is found in a deed dated 4 August 1469, when the Abbess of Syon granted to John Gardyner, of Bailrigg (near Lancaster), a lease of a water-mill on the River Lune and some land nearby for two hundred years to maintain a chaplain to celebrate worship in the Church of St. Mary, Lancaster, and to instruct boys in grammar freely, "unless perchance something shall be voluntarily offered by their friends".
In 1472, John Gardyner's will made further provisions for the endowment of the school, and also for William Baxstonden to keep the school so long as he could teach the boys. In 1682, the school was rebuilt and in 1852 was removed from the old site on the slopes by the priory to the outskirts of the city, where it now stands (though the city has expanded around it, so they are no longer the outskirts).
This building (now known as the Old Building), which stands on the north side of East Road, was designed by the local architects Sharpe and Paley at a cost of £8.000 (£690,000 as of 2012). The foundation stone was laid on 5 May 1851 by Rt Revd James Prince Lee, the Bishop of Manchester. The title "Royal" was granted by Queen Victoria in the same year. This building has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.
In 1969, the school celebrated its quincentenary and was visited by HM The Queen. In 1995, the school received a visit from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, The Rt Hon Roger Freeman MP.
In 2001, to mark the 150th anniversary of becoming the Royal Grammar School, the school welcomed The Princess Royal. In 2011, the school was granted Academy status.
Read more about this topic: Lancaster Royal Grammar School
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