THE opening of the City of Oxford High School for Boys filled a gap in the city’s “ladder of learning”.

It had long been evident that despite having one of the world’s leading universities, it had “no recognised grammar school for the sons of its citizens”.

This statement from Oxford Corporation in 1877 set in motion a chain of events that was to lead to the high school opening in September 1881.

The Corporation set up a High School Committee, which found a site at the corner of George Street and New Inn Hall Street and promised £4,000 towards building costs, £100 a year for maintenance and a number of Corporation scholarships.

The meeting was held at the Town Hall on January 30, 1878 to appeal for financial support from the public.

Architect T G Jackson, who had designed the Examination Schools in High Street, was appointed. Prince Leopold, youngest son of Queen Victoria, laid the foundation stone on April 13, 1880 and a year later, Mr A T Pollard, from Dulwich College, London, was appointed headmaster.

When the school opened, it had 46 pupils, under-12s being charged £12 a year and over-12s £15.

It quickly gained a reputation for academic excellence, with 10 boys winning places at Oxford University in the first six years, but the early years were dogged by financial difficulties.

With money scarce, headmaster Mr Pollard had to dip into his own pocket to provide a tennis court and to complete the boundary wall.

Inspectors in 1906 praised the school’s good results and dedication of staff, but highlighted the financial situation and the lack of science classrooms.

With pupil numbers rising to 360, lack of space on the cramped city centre site became an additional problem.

For years, sports teams had to catch the No 2 bus to Summertown to play matches on the school’s pitches at Marston Ferry Road.

Efforts to find a new site for the school at Cutteslowe and Marston Ferry Road failed to materialise, despite inspectors stressing the need in 1928, 1937 and 1955.

A decision was finally made in 1959, but it was not to everyone’s liking – the High School was to merge with Oxford’s other boys’ grammar school, Southfield, on the Southfield site off Glanville Road, East Oxford.

The merger took place in 1966, under the name Oxford School. It is now Oxford Spires Academy.

As reported last week, the City of Oxford School Association (Cosa), representing old boys, is organising a series of events this year to mark the 50th anniversary of the school’s closure. Full details are on the Cosa website, cosa.webplus.net

Send your memories and pictures of the City of Oxford High School to Memory Lane and share them with other old boys.