Grey Coat School

[Grey-Coat School, or Hospital,.] At the east end of Rochester Row, facing Grey-Coat Place, is the Grey-Coat School, or Hospital, so named from the colour of the clothing worn by its inmates. It was founded in the year 1698, for the education of seventy poor boys and forty poor girls. The hospital presents a considerable frontage towards Grey-Coat Place, from which it is separated by a large court-yard. It is composed of a central building, ornamented with a clock, turret, and bell, above the royal arms of Queen Anne, with the motto "Semper eadem," flanked by a figure on either side, dressed in the former costume of the children. The south side, which looks out upon an open garden and spacious detached play-grounds (the whole surrounded by an extensive wall), contains the school-rooms. Above is a wainscoted dining-hall, used also for the private prayers of the inmates of the hospital. The dormitories occupy the whole attic storey. In the board-room—a noble panelled apartment—are portraits of the royal foundress, Queen Anne; Dr. Compton, Bishop of London; Dr. Smalridge, Bishop of Bristol; and those of other former governors. In July, 1875, the first distribution of prizes to the children was made by the Duke of Buccleuch, who congratulated the children and visitors upon the successful working of the school under the new scheme. The number of children had increased from twenty-eight to upwards of one hundred.

Grey Coat Hospital, Grey Coat Place, Tothill Fields, so called from the colour of the children's clothes, was founded in 1698 for the maintenance and education of seventy poor boys and forty poor girls of the parish of St Margaret, Westminster. A subsequent foundation, in 1707, included the parish of St. John the Evangelist, when the number of children was increased. It was reconstituted in 1873 as a day-school for 300 girls.