In the 1500s, the Tudor king Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. Traditionally these had taken care of the poor. King Henry’s son, young King Edward VI, seeing that the dissolution of monasteries had deprived children, decided to do something about it. So he granted land and means to create Christ’s Hospital to care for indigent children. This was not a hospital as we know it today but an institution that cared for children while teaching them the three Rs. The original intake was 380 pupils. The school/hospital opened in 1552. Today, Christ’s Hospital has the largest school campus in the UK. It is still co-ed and philanthropic.
From inception, Christ’s Hospital students were easily recognized by their uniform. In Tudor style, it comprised a long blue coat, knee-breeches and yellow socks, as well as bands at the neck. The uniform quickly earned Christ’s Hospital the name "Bluecoat School". While the name “Bluecoat School” initially referred to Christ’s Church, in subsequent centuries philanthropists established other Bluecoat schools with traditional bluecoat attire.
From inception, Christ’s Hospital students were easily recognized by their uniform. In Tudor style, it comprised a long blue coat, knee-breeches and yellow socks, as well as bands at the neck. The uniform quickly earned Christ’s Hospital the name "Bluecoat School". While the name “Bluecoat School” initially referred to Christ’s Church, in subsequent centuries philanthropists established other Bluecoat schools with traditional bluecoat attire.
Pearlware Bluecoat School boy. Circa 1820.
The pearlware figure above portrays a traditionally attired Bluecoat schoolboy, circa 1825, and it was made in Staffordshire. I know of only two examples of this little figure: one here, and one in Andrew Dando's stock. Truly a rare glimpse of the past.
Factoids:
- Although there are still Bluecoat Schools throughout England, today Christ’s Hospital boys are the only ones to wear the Tudor style uniform on a daily basis. Look for yourself!
- What do girls wear at Christ’s Hospital today? Blue coats? No, girls wear complementary attire that includes a skirt.
- Yellow stockings were allegedly adopted because they discourage rats. Let me know if you test this out!
- A similarly attired Staffordshire figure was made in the Victorian era, titled “Colston Boy Bristol” In 1710, a Bristol philanthropist, Edward Colston, established Colston's School as "Colston's Hospital". This school was modeled on Christ’s Hospital and students also wore a long blue coat, knee britches and yellow stockings. Of course, the Victorian figure can't hold a candle to the earlier pearlware model.
