Mercers’ school, 1542 – 1959
In 1542 the Mercers’ Company purchased the site of the Hospital of St Thomas of Acon on Cheapside from Henry VIII. The school of the Hospital was one of the three great medieval schools of London at the time of the Dissolution. By agreement with the King the Mercers continued the School of the Hospital as a free grammar school for twenty-five children "for ever".
The school moved to College Hill in the early nineteenth century and to this site in 1894. In 1959 it was decided that the premises had become inadequate to fulfil the educational requirements at that time; rebuilding elsewhere proved financially impossible and the school closed.
A thriving Old Boys’ Club, founded in 1904, has continued to keep the name of the school alive, and, in association with the Company, has established a Mercers’ School Memorial Trust devoted to educational interests.
Details from the clock tower and other parts of the school are incorporated in the new Barnard’s Inn buildings completed by the Mercers’ Company in 1992. The Hall, dating from about 1540, served various purposes as the school’s dining hall, library and debating chamber, and has been restored to maintain its use as a place of assembly.
Site: Mercers' School (2 memorials)
EC1, Holborn, Barnard’s Inn
The blue plaque can be seen in our photo to the right of the entrance. To see the large slate plaque you must walk into the alleyway, around a few bends and find the courtyard, where you can also see Barnard's Inn Hall - a rare survivor from the 1666 Great Fire, which was used by Mercers' School 1894 -1959.
Londonist's post about Barnard's Inn Hall has a number of photos.
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