Engraving of a view of Newcastle from the Gateshead banks of the Tyne. Drawn by Thomas Harrison Hair, engraver R. Dawson. n.d. [c.1830-1875]. RGS Archives [ref: 816]
Newcastle's Story
A City and School shaped by generosity
Our beloved homeland of Newcastle upon Tyne has played a central role in Britain’s economic, industrial, and cultural development since even before the RGS was founded. Our city’s wealth was built on coal mining, engineering, and shipbuilding, industries that powered the British Empire and left an enduring legacy of innovation.
Equally important is Newcastle’s tradition of philanthropy, exemplified by figures like Thomas Horsley (1462-1545), who embodied civic responsibility and established the foundations of the catalyst of goodwill that is known at the Royal Grammar School Newcastle today.
The Foundations of Newcastle's Prosperity
Newcastle’s origins can be traced back to Roman Britain when the Pons Aelius fort was established to guard the River Tyne. By the medieval period, Newcastle emerged as a thriving trading hub, with narrow and bustling streets, lined with timber-framed houses.
Newcastle was a fortified settlement, with its medieval walls, gates, and the iconic Castle Keep standing as symbols of its defensive and administrative importance. Key landmarks included the medieval Tyne Bridge, an essential crossing point that facilitated trade and travel.
Ref 030921: A Keel boat laden with coal on the Tyne. Shipping Collection: Local Studies. Courtesy of Newcastle Libraries: https://flic.kr/p/7dxsHe
The town’s prominence grew significantly during the 16th century with the expansion of the coal trade. Newcastle’s strategic location near rich coal reserves and its access to the Tyne allowed our city to dominate this lucrative industry.
Much of this economic development occurred under the guidance of influential civic leaders, such as Thomas Horsley, who served as mayor of Newcastle five times in the early 16th century. Merchants like Horsley, had the leadership and vision which laid the groundwork for Newcastle’s ascent as a centre of commerce.
Key to that vision was the establishment of a free school, offering a grammar education of the sons of Newcastle’s freemen. Horsley gifted his estate to fund the school - a radical act of philanthropy that laid the foundation for centuries of educational excellence.
Admiral Lord Cuthbert Collingwood (1748-1810), copy made by Harry Fogan, of a portrait by Charles Lonsdale, 1911.
While early records are scarce, we do know that an early beneficiary of the RGS’s benevolence was Lord Cuthbert Collingwood (1748–1810), sent to the school ‘because his father couldn’t afford to send him elsewhere’.
Despite humble beginnings, Collingwood rose to become a towering figure in British naval history as Vice Admiral of the Fleet, playing a decisive role in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. After the death of Admiral Nelson, Collingwood took command and completed the victory that secured British naval supremacy for over a century. His leadership helped shape the geopolitical balance of power in Europe and the wider world, ensuring Britain's dominance at sea. Collingwood’s legacy is not only military but moral—he was known for his humane treatment of sailors and his commitment to duty, honour, and education.
The Industrial Revolution and Newcastle's Golden Age
As the 19th century dawned, the values of civic leadership and educational opportunity continued to flourish, laying the groundwork for Newcastle’s industrial golden age.
The Industrial Revolution brought unprecedented prosperity to Newcastle, transforming it from a coal-exporting town into an industrial powerhouse. The abundance of coal fuelled industries such as shipbuilding, ironworks, and engineering. The Tyne became a hub of activity, with shipyards constructing vessels that connected Britain to the world.
As Newcastle’s industries flourished, so too did its philanthropic spirit. Wealthy industrialists and civic leaders invested in the city’s cultural and social infrastructure, ensuring that progress was accompanied by a commitment to community welfare.
RGS played a pivotal role during this period, expanding its curriculum to include the sciences and adapting to the demands of the industrial age. Horsley’s founding values of civic leadership also endured, with RGS instilling in its students the importance of public service and community engagement. Undoubtedly Old Novocastrians contributed significantly to Newcastle’s economic and intellectual life – including the (at least) 21 ONs who went on to become Mayor of Newcastle), embodying the values of innovation and service that defined the city.
Postcard with illustration of view of Newcastle, 1860. [RGS Archives, ref: SUR/125]
Ref 044108: Black and white photograph of the Swing Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne showing both industrial quaysides and a variety of sail and steam ships and boats moored. Unknown photographer, 1904. Courtesy of Newcastle Libraries: https://flic.kr/p/7dFqiN
Albany Hancock
Sir John Fife
Sir William Armstrong
RGS Alumni Who Shaped Newcastle
Old Novo Sir John Fife (1795-1871) studied at RGS around 1803. A surgeon, he went on to found the Newcastle Eye Infirmary and the Newcastle School of Medicine & Surgery. Fife was Lord Mayor of Newcastle in 1838 and 1843, and knighted in 1840. He was a great supporter of radical movements, including the abolition of slavery.
A pioneering naturalist, ON Albany Hancock (1806-1873) was educated at RGS around 1816. Though trained as a solicitor, he left law to pursue natural history full-time. He published over 70 scientific works and collaborated with leading biologists of his time. Hancock was instrumental in founding the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle upon Tyne, and helped establish the College of Physical Science in Newcastle. His contributions earned him the Royal Society’s Royal Medal in 1858. The Hancock Museum, named in honour of Albany and his brother John, stands as a testament to their efforts to preserve and promote natural history in the region.
Other philanthropists such as ON Lord William Armstrong (1810-1900) set a high standard for civic generosity. Armstrong, a leading industrialist and inventor donated Jesmond Dene and Armstrong Park to the city, funded the construction of the Hancock Museum and was a major donor to the RVI, while also supporting scientific education and research. Armstrong’s belief in public access to nature and knowledge was ahead of its time and continues to benefit generations.
20th Century Challenges and Cultural Resurgence
The 20th century brought challenges to Newcastle as traditional industries such as coal mining and shipbuilding faced decline. Economic hardship affected many communities, but the city responded by investing in education, technology, and culture.
No one more so than ON, Sir Arthur Munro Sutherland (1867-1953) who was a major benefactor of Newcastle University, funding facilities for the medical and dental schools. His philanthropy helped transform the university into a centre of excellence and continues to benefit students today. The shipping magnate also left an indelible mark on RGS, funding various major capital projects including our war memorial and organ, in the main hall.
Sir Arthur Munro Sutherland
Photograph of scene from an RGS classroom, c.1950s. RGS Archives
Opening Doors: The Direct Grant Scheme and Educational Access
In the mid-20th century, the Royal Grammar School Newcastle entered a transformative chapter with the introduction of the Government’s Direct Grant Scheme. This national initiative, launched in 1945, aimed to widen access to high-quality education by enabling academically able students from all backgrounds to attend independent schools through state funding.
RGS became a proud participant in the scheme, which allowed the school to retain its independence while admitting a significant number of pupils whose fees were paid in full or in part by the government. This marked a pivotal moment in the school’s history—one that aligned perfectly with its founding ethos of educational philanthropy and civic responsibility.
The Direct Grant Scheme not only diversified the student body but also reinforced the school’s commitment to meritocracy. Talented students from working-class families across Newcastle and the wider North East were given the opportunity to benefit from the rigorous academic environment and rich traditions of RGS. Many went on to achieve distinction in fields ranging from science and law to public service and the arts.
During this time, notable ONs include Lord Peter Taylor, who served as Lord Chief Justice and dedicated his life to fairness; Lord Timothy Kirkhope, whose career of public service spanned roles as Counsellor, MP, MEP, and now Peer; and Sir Max Hill KC, who recently retired as Director of Public Prosecution, exemplifying leadership in legal service. Countless other less high profile ONs have also gone out to quietly do good in the world.
Though the Direct Grant scheme was eventually phased out in the late 1970s, replaced by the relatively short-lived Assisted Places scheme which was abolished in 1997, its legacy endures. It laid the groundwork for today’s RGS bursary programme and reaffirmed the principle that access to excellence should not be limited by financial means. The Direct Grant era remains a proud testament to RGS’s role in shaping a more inclusive and aspirational educational landscape.
Lord Peter Taylor
Lord Timothy Kirkhope
Sir Max Hill KC
Continuing the Mission: The RGS Bursary Programme.
From government support to private generosity, RGS’s commitment to accessibility has remained steadfast.
Following the closure of the Assisted Places scheme, RGS reaffirmed its commitment to accessibility through the development of its own bursary programme. Rooted in the school’s founding principles of philanthropy and social mobility, the bursary scheme ensures that financial circumstances do not prevent talented students from receiving an RGS education.
Today, the bursary programme is one of the most ambitious of its kind in the North East, offering means-tested support to families who would otherwise be unable to afford our fast paced and academically challenging education. 100 students currently attend RGS on transformational bursaries, 500 such students have been supported since the scheme was established in 2002.
Funded through a combination of endowments, alumni donations, and charitable partnerships, the programme reflects the enduring generosity of the RGS community and its belief in the transformative power of education. Donors to the RGS Bursary Campaign include those who give a few pounds a month, to those who pledge six and seven figure donations. Whatever the amount, their willingness to give back to our bursary students has sustained RGS’s much coveted social diversity.
Bursary recipients are fully integrated into school life, contributing to the academic, cultural, and social fabric of RGS. Many go on to achieve remarkable success in higher education and beyond, becoming leaders in their fields and advocates for opportunity. Their journeys are a testament to the school’s unwavering dedication to nurturing potential wherever it is found.
RGS Bursary Campaign leaflet, 2002. RGS Archives
Mathematics Partnership event.
Beyond Bursaries
More recently, RGS extended its social impact beyond the depth of difference made through RGS Bursaries, to deliver a breadth of reach through RGS Partnerships. Though still in its relative infancy, RGS Partnerships sees us employ 10 teachers who are dedicated to working with over 100 local State Schools, reaching over 10,000 children in the North East each year.
As RGS celebrates its 500th anniversary, RGS Bursaries stand as a living legacy of its philanthropic heritage. It honours the vision of Thomas Horsley and generations of benefactors who believed that education should be a right, not a privilege. In doing so, it ensures that the school remains a beacon of excellence, inclusion, and hope for the future.
A Shared Legacy
Today’s students and all our alumni are heirs to this legacy. Whether they walked the halls of the school in Jesmond or earlier sites across the city, thousands of ONs’ education was shaped by centuries of philanthropic vision. The school’s 500th anniversary in 2025 is not just a celebration of academic achievement - it is a tribute to the enduring power of generosity.
Philanthropy built RGS. It sustained it. And today, it continues to shape its future - through bursaries, partnerships, facilities, and opportunities that ensure the next generation of students can thrive.
RGS’s and our wider city of Newcastle upon Tyne’s history is one of innovation, industry, and generosity. Figures like Thomas Horsley and institutions like RGS have played a vital role in shaping the city’s character, fostering leadership, education, and civic pride. From our coal trade origins to our industrial heyday and modern cultural renaissance, Newcastle has consistently demonstrated a capacity for growth and adaptation. At its heart lies a commitment to community, embodied in its philanthropic traditions and enduring educational institutions. Today, Newcastle, and our city’s oldest school, stand as a testament to the enduring power of industry, education, and philanthropy to build a prosperous and resilient community.