A short history of King James’s Grammar School
Although the school in Almondbury received its charter from James I in 1608, education in the town dates back to the 1530s, if not before. The Kays of Woodsome were early benefactors and John Kay, referring in 1591 to the 'chapell of old tyme', relates how he had recently helped to convert St Helen's Chapel into a 'schole howsse'.
". . . He and I dyd shifte yt by consent of the parishe and dyd translate the same into the Schole howsse that now is. And I dyd secure one Mr Smyth a good scolar to com and teach here."
John Kay: Commonplace Book
This page will shortly contain a brief history of the School specially written for this website by Gerald Hinchliffe, author of A History of King James's Grammar School (The Advertiser Press).