Ordnance Survey Map 1861, 10 foot series, 1st edition. Co. Northumberland Sheet XCVII.7.8. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.
Charlotte Square
1848 must have felt like a new era for RGS, with an energetic new Headmaster in post –
Dr James Snape – and a new home at Charlotte Square.
RGS’s Lasting Legacy
No. 6 Charlotte Square is the only one of the former homes of RGS that still stands today. The square was built in 1770 by architect William Newton, who lived at No. 1. The houses are a wonderful example of surviving Georgian architecture in the city; they were the first housing development associated with a garden square in Newcastle.
Whole school photograph of RGS staff and students, outside of Charlotte Square, c.1866-67. [RGS Archives, ref: RGS/PHO/1/1]
Photograph of Headmaster James Snape and a group of students at No. 6 Charlotte Square, in costume for a play, c.1866-67. RGS Archives, ©RGS Newcastle.
'Christmas or New Years' Gift for the Juveniles', print by RGS (1867). [RGS Archives, ref: 510]
Photograph of Charlotte Square Newcastle upon Tyne by Signey James 1969. Courtesy of Newcastle Libraries Flickr, Collection: Local Studies. Public Domain [018530]
Memories from Charlotte Square
Our earliest school photograph in the RGS Archives was taken outside of Charlotte Square. It shows the full school body of staff and students, crowded outside of the front door.
Though our address is recorded as No. 6, from studying the 1866 image, it appears the students are outside of present-day No. 5 Charlotte Square.
There are two additional photographs which were taken at Charlotte Square that have survived. They show groups of students in costume, presumably for a dramatic production, along with the Headmaster.
Photograph of students and Headmaster, outside in the yard of the Charlotte Square school. The students are dressed in costume, for a drama performance. c.1866-67. [RGS Archives]
Hospital of St Mary the Virgin, Scheme of Surplus Income, 1858, title page [RGS Archives]
From 12 Pupils to Over 200
The six rooms in the house may have been adequate for the school to begin with, as we only had two staff and 12 pupils in 1848. However, Dr Snape did so much work to improve the reputation of the school that far more pupils enrolled, rising to over 200. The new railway had done a lot to help bring boys from all over the North East to join the school.
Charlotte Square, therefore, became a completely unsuitable home with no room for expansion. However, changes to our financial situation meant we could make a plan for moving on.
The charitable trust of the Virgin Mary Hospital was reformed in 1846, introducing a new scheme where the school received surplus income from the Hospital. This money allowed the school to finance our first ever purpose-built home at Rye Hill.