Phil Lloyd with his book and John S. Read (archiver 54-61), head Simon Corns, publisher Chris Hargreaves and pupils Jessica and Thomas Walsh, at the book launch last night
AT the same time that Henry VIII was taking to the throne of England, a new school was founded in Blackburn, close to the parish church.
Now 500 years on, the history of that school - Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School - has been celebrated in a new book.
The School on the Hill has been edited by QEGS develop-ment director Phil Lloyd and charts the rise of one of East Lancashire's most well-known seats of learning.
Initially the chantry school, as it was known, was situated on land next to what is now Blackburn Cathedral, close to the current Pavilions development.
Initially pupils were taught Latin and spent time pract-icing for the church choir
Later it moved to land off Darwen Street and then Freckleton Street, before moving to its current site on West Park Road in 1884.
"We have been working on the book for the last three years," said Mr Lloyd.
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"It is such a major anniver-sary that we felt it appropriate to record it in this way."
The school was founded in 1509 and a whole series of events is being planned to mark this milestone.
Big School, as pictured in the 1901
"Now we have got the book published we can start to plan the events for the coming year," said Mr Lloyd.
This weekend there will be a reunion for pupils at the school during the 1960s.
The 164-page paperback is packed with photographs and illustrations taken from the school archives, and loaned by former pupils.
The almost magazine-like style of the book looks at all aspects of school life, includ-ing its sporting pedigree to it becoming fully co-educational in 2001.
A number of old boys and members of staff have cont-ributed articles to the publication.
"There are already two traditional histories of the school, one written by John Garstand in 1897, and a second by G F Eastwood in 1967 to mark the 400th aniversary of the school's royal charter," said Mr Lloyd.
"We wanted to do something slightly different, so we have concentrated on more modern time, although the whole history of the school is covered.
"It was only when I sat down and worked out a plan for the book that I realised I could not do it on my own.
"Thankfully so many people have been willing to give their time and share their memories, particularly the school's archivist John Read."
In his foreword to the book, headmaster Simon Corns said: "This school has not had an easy history by any means, but what has enabled it to survive so far and what will enable it to continue to serve the town of Blackburn and beyond are the people who are associated with it."
The School on the Hill is available from the school priced £19.50 + p&p.
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