Collection GB 0074 LMA/4710 - ROYAL CALEDONIAN EDUCATION TRUST

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 LMA/4710

Title

ROYAL CALEDONIAN EDUCATION TRUST

Date(s)

  • 1803-2005 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

13.5 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

In 1808 the Highland Society of London launched an appeal to raise subscriptions to open an Asylum to support Scottish children orphaned in the Napoleonic wars. The school opened, by Act of Parliament, on 14 June 1815. With the end of the war in that same year (1815) the remit of the school was changed to 'the support and education of the children of soldiers, sailors and marines, natives of Scotland, who have died or been disabled in the service of their country; and also the children of indigent and deserving Scotch parents resident in London, upon whom poverty has fallen or by worse death they have been left unbefriended and helpless orphans'.

The first school opened in Cross Street, Hatton Garden in 1819 and admitted 12 boys, Numbers quickly increased to 40 and the premises became too small and inadequate to accommodate these number. In 1826 land was purchased in Copenhagen Fields, Islington and a purpose built asylum was founded. The Asylum survived for 77 years at the site and gave its name to the 'Caledonian Road'.

In 1852 Queen Victoria became the patron of the Asylum and it was renamed the Royal Caledonian School. The attendees until 1844 were all boys but by 1844 the building was altered to allow provision for girls. At first the area where the school was situated was open fields, however as the area around Caledonian Road grew and became more populated, and with its proximity to Pentonville Prison, it was felt to be ‘undesirable’, the Directors of the school decided to find a new more spacious site. They opted to move to Bushey in Hertfordshire and in 1897 started to raise the estimated £37,000 for the building of a new school.

By 1902 the new residential school was completed and opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice. Until 1947 pupils boarded and were educated on site at Bushey school, but in 1948 although children still boarded at the school, they were educated at local state schools.

In 1995 the Directors decided the objectives of the charity could be better met as a grant giving body. The Bushey school site was closed and sold and the proceeds invested to produce an income to enable the Trust to provide educational grants to both individuals and organisations.

The charity was renamed the Royal Caledonian Education Trust in 2012 as a reflection of the work they do now. They continue to 'support the educational needs of the children of Scots who are serving or who have served in the Armed forces' and in 2015 celebrated the 200th Anniversary of their incorporation.

Archival history

GB 0074 LMA/4710 1803-2005 Collection 13.5 linear metres Royal Caledonian Education Trust
xx Royal Caledonian School

In 1808 the Highland Society of London launched an appeal to raise subscriptions to open an Asylum to support Scottish children orphaned in the Napoleonic wars. The school opened, by Act of Parliament, on 14 June 1815. With the end of the war in that same year (1815) the remit of the school was changed to 'the support and education of the children of soldiers, sailors and marines, natives of Scotland, who have died or been disabled in the service of their country; and also the children of indigent and deserving Scotch parents resident in London, upon whom poverty has fallen or by worse death they have been left unbefriended and helpless orphans'.

The first school opened in Cross Street, Hatton Garden in 1819 and admitted 12 boys, Numbers quickly increased to 40 and the premises became too small and inadequate to accommodate these number. In 1826 land was purchased in Copenhagen Fields, Islington and a purpose built asylum was founded. The Asylum survived for 77 years at the site and gave its name to the 'Caledonian Road'.

In 1852 Queen Victoria became the patron of the Asylum and it was renamed the Royal Caledonian School. The attendees until 1844 were all boys but by 1844 the building was altered to allow provision for girls. At first the area where the school was situated was open fields, however as the area around Caledonian Road grew and became more populated, and with its proximity to Pentonville Prison, it was felt to be ‘undesirable’, the Directors of the school decided to find a new more spacious site. They opted to move to Bushey in Hertfordshire and in 1897 started to raise the estimated £37,000 for the building of a new school.

By 1902 the new residential school was completed and opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice. Until 1947 pupils boarded and were educated on site at Bushey school, but in 1948 although children still boarded at the school, they were educated at local state schools.

In 1995 the Directors decided the objectives of the charity could be better met as a grant giving body. The Bushey school site was closed and sold and the proceeds invested to produce an income to enable the Trust to provide educational grants to both individuals and organisations.

The charity was renamed the Royal Caledonian Education Trust in 2012 as a reflection of the work they do now. They continue to 'support the educational needs of the children of Scots who are serving or who have served in the Armed forces' and in 2015 celebrated the 200th Anniversary of their incorporation.

Deposited in March 2013.

Records of the Royal Caledonian Education Trust from its inception, including records of the Royal Caledonian Asylum and School LMA/4710/D, the Gaelic Chapel LMA/4710/E, the Society of Old Caledonians LMA/4710/F, including copies of the groups magazines. Also includes Records of Governance LMA/4710/A including Court of Governors and Directors minutes, Finance records LMA/4710/B and early accounts, as well as records of early subscribers to the school; Records of Administration LMA/4710/C these include the Secretary’s correspondence and the main series of registers of petitions and admissions of the pupils to both the Asylum and School dating from 1819; Records of the Asylum and School, including class registers, log books and reports of the school staff (Headmaster, Matron, School Mistress and Medical Officer) . There are also a large series of photographs of pupils and school events as well as a series of scrap book and press cuttings covering school events, Clan days and sports days and the Caledonian Ball.

Arranged in series as follows:

LMA/4710/A - Governance;

LMA/4710/B Finance;

LMA/4710/C Administration;

LMA/4710/D Royal Caledonian Asylum/School;

LMA/4710/E Gaelic Chapel;

LMA/4710/F The Society of Old Caledonians;

LMA/4710/G Friends of the Royal Caledonain School;

LMA/4710/H Publicity and History;

LMA/4710/I Audio-visual

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

Copyright rests with the depositor.

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Added September 2017. Caledonian Road Islington London Associations Hertfordshire Bushey Europe Western Europe UK England Scotland Royal Caledonian Education Trust Educational administration Organizations Nonprofit organizations Information sources Documents Education records Charitable organisations Charities Educational charities Educational finance Economics of education

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited in March 2013.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Royal Caledonian Education Trust from its inception, including records of the Royal Caledonian Asylum and School LMA/4710/D, the Gaelic Chapel LMA/4710/E, the Society of Old Caledonians LMA/4710/F, including copies of the groups magazines. Also includes Records of Governance LMA/4710/A including Court of Governors and Directors minutes, Finance records LMA/4710/B and early accounts, as well as records of early subscribers to the school; Records of Administration LMA/4710/C these include the Secretary’s correspondence and the main series of registers of petitions and admissions of the pupils to both the Asylum and School dating from 1819; Records of the Asylum and School, including class registers, log books and reports of the school staff (Headmaster, Matron, School Mistress and Medical Officer) . There are also a large series of photographs of pupils and school events as well as a series of scrap book and press cuttings covering school events, Clan days and sports days and the Caledonian Ball.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged in series as follows:

LMA/4710/A - Governance;

LMA/4710/B Finance;

LMA/4710/C Administration;

LMA/4710/D Royal Caledonian Asylum/School;

LMA/4710/E Gaelic Chapel;

LMA/4710/F The Society of Old Caledonians;

LMA/4710/G Friends of the Royal Caledonain School;

LMA/4710/H Publicity and History;

LMA/4710/I Audio-visual

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area