The Beginnings

Clifton College was founded in 1862, two years before Brunel's suspension bridge was finally built across the Avon Gorge. But Brunel had already ensured the continued prosperity of both Bristol and Clifton by bringing the railway to the city in 1840.

The College was founded because the Grammar School, dating from the reign of Henry VIII, was not able to meet the needs of Bristol's more ambitious citizens.

Charles Hudson, who had been Headmaster of the Grammar School since 1855 when his predecessor died of cholera, wanted to turn his school into a boarding school. Some of the governors were opposed to the idea, but the Charity Commissioners seemed sympathetic. In 1860, however, Hudson's hopes were dashed when the Master of the Rolls ruled against the scheme. If Bristol was to have its own boarding school modelled on Thomas Arnold's Rugby, it would have to be a new foundation.

So a body of leading Bristol citizens met at the home of the Wasborough family to set about establishing an entirely new school. This preliminary meeting took place on 5th April 1860. At a second meeting, held on 16th May in what is now the Clifton Club, a provisional committee was appointed “for the purpose of taking preliminary steps for the establishment of the institution.” It was agreed that the school should be set up as a limited company and a prospectus was approved.

Four hundred shares of £25 each were offered in the “Clifton College Company”, and by November, 1861, the College Council could report that “upwards of three hundred shares have been taken”. Class A share holders carried the right to nominate pupils; holders of B class shares might receive 4% on their investment, but had no right of nomination. No dividend was ever paid. The limited company lasted only until the granting of the Royal Charter in 1877, although there is an echo of the original shareholders in the 150 governors, who are called to an annual general meeting at each Commemoration.

With the example of Rugby very much in mind, the Council approached Frederick Temple, Headmaster of Rugby, for advice on suitable candidates for headmastership. Temple recommended one of his assistant masters, the Reverend Charles Evans. A preliminary school was now established in Arlington Villas and by March 1862 the building of Big School and School House, on open land purchased adjacent to the zoo, was sufficiently advanced for the council to decide to open formally in September.

In late August the opening date was suddenly put at risk when Evans announced that he had accepted the headmastership of his old school, King Edward’s, Birmingham. At the time, the Council recorded that the news caused them “more anxiety than they can adequately express”! They turned again to Temple, who told them that the only other Rugby master that he could recommend was the 27-year old John Percival. At his interview with the Council, Percival was told by one member that he was very young, while another remarked that he was unmarried. “A few years will correct the former,” Percival is said to have replied, “and a few weeks the latter.”

Clifton College duly opened on Tuesday 30th September 1862 at 11.00am with a service in Big School. There were some 70 boys and many well-wishers present, the Cathedral Choir led the singing and benches were borrowed from the Victoria Rooms for the occasion. Within a fortnight, the Headmaster brought home his bride, Louisa Holland, after a two-day honeymoon at Clevedon. They were met by the boys, who took the horses out of the couple’s carriage and dragged it triumphantly to School House. Of the 76 names listed in the Register for that first term, only 26 came from outside the city. Clifton College had been created by Bristol citizens for Bristol citizens.