Deacon's School 1722-2007
'Quidquid Agas Prudenter Agas' - Whatever you do, do it thoughtfully and keep in mind the end goal
During 2006 and 2007, Peterborough Archives Service received
several large donations from Deacon's School, containing the
school's archives. This exhibition will hopefully give you a small
taste of the wealth of information available relating to this
historic school....
The history of Deacon's School
Thomas Deacon was a wealthy wool merchant who died in 1721. In his Will he made provision for the setting up of a school to teach and instruct twenty poor boys to 'read, write and cast accounts'. The school was established in 1722 in Cowgate and became known as Mr Deacon's Charity School.
'The old "Deacon's" School House, Cowgate
Peterborough' dated c.1883 Ref: PAS/DEA/15/1
As the school expanded it then moved to Crown Lane which
was renamed Deacon Street. Further land was purchased and
extensions to the buildings opened.
Extract from 'Conveyance of a piece of
land situate on Crown Lane Peterborough as a Site for Deacons
School Peterborough' dated 6 April 1883.
Showing the location plan Ref:
PAS/DEA/7/3/1
In 1949 the first pre-fab accommodation opened in Queen's
Gardens as part of the new building programme.
This eventually became the site for the Deacon's School which
opened in 1960 and has remained there until now.
Aerial view of Deacon's School in Queen's Gardens
as it looked in recent times. Ref: PAS/DEA/1/2/1
The Thomas Deacon Academy
This new state of the art building has been under construction
since 2005 on part of the Deacon's School site.
It replaces Deacon's School, the John Mansfield School, and
Hereward Community College.
In September 2007 it opens its doors to pupils for the start
of the new term. The school will provide free
education for pupils of all abilities, seeking to promote
excellence and achievement. It therefore seems
fitting that the Thomas Deacon Academy has been named after the man
who, nearly 300 years ago, had such a concern for the teaching and
well being of those who would not normally have benefited from an
education.
Material available in the archive
- Documents relating to Mr Deacon's Charity
- Governors' Minutes and Papers
- Admission Registers
- School Leavers
- Other pupil records
- Staff records
- Parent Teacher Association Minutes and Accounts
- Administration Files
- School Magazines
- Old Deaconians' Association Minutes
- Deacon's School and the First World War
- Photographs
- and much more!
How to use this material
To view this material it is necessary to make an appointment in advance. If you wish to do this please contact the Archives Service Team.