Group   

Charity scholars

Categories: Education, Philanthropy

Looking at London has a page about these little blue people but even there we can find no origin story explaining why and when the first such statues were erected. We note that there seems to be a rule that the boy is on the left and the girl on the right, just like the TV breakfast show hosts. When that row blew up the TV studios admitted that the left-hand position has always been seen as the senior spot, due, apparently to how the eye moves when reading.

Christ's Hospital was known as the Bluecoat School but there are no little blue people that we could see in Newgate Street. However we understand there are more statues inside and also in St Bride’s church Fleet Street and in the galleries at the Museum of London.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Charity scholars

Commemorated ati

Blewcoat School SW1 - charity boy

{On a stone plaque below the statue:} The Blewcoat School, built in the year ...

Read More

Charity School - plaque

2023: Lionel Wright  has drawn our attention to an error in this plaque: St A...

Read More

Show all 23

Other Subjects

Sydney Charles Pigden

Sydney Charles Pigden

Royal Air Force fighter pilot and PE teacher. Born Sydenham, lived in Lewisham most of his life. Aged 18, joined the RAF and flew Spitfires and Hurricanes. When he left the RAF he taught at Turnham...

Person, Education

1 memorial
St John of Wapping School

St John of Wapping School

The school was originally founded in 1695, although its first location is unknown, as is its closure date. The bluecoat statues are probably the finest examples in London.

Building, Education

3 memorials
Thomas Arnold

Thomas Arnold

Headmaster of Rugby School from 1828 to 1841.  Born Isle of Wight.  Father of Matthew Arnold, great grandfather of Aldous and Julian Huxley.  Died at Rugby.

Person, Education, History

1 memorial
William Ward (benefactor)

William Ward (benefactor)

Merchant in the City of London. Founded City of London School for Girls. In his will, dated 3 June 1881, left £20,000 to the City of London towards a girls' high school, the residue 'to be applied...

Person, Education

1 memorial