Britain has a number of 'bluecoat schools', the name deriving from the quaint costume formerly worn by the pupils. Nowadays most of these establishments are bluecoat schools in name only, having long ago abandoned the cassock-like bluecoats, knee breeches and stockings in favour of a more up to date mode of dress. However, a number of schools still retain the bluecoat uniform for special occasions and pupils at the most famous bluecoat school of all, Christ's Hospital, wear the antique dress at all times - keeping alive a tradition that dates back to the mid-16th century.
Bluecoat schools date back to Tudor times and the long blue coat which gives the uniform its name is a survival of the ordinary attire of schoolboys and apprentices of that time. (See this detail of a 16th century tomb.) The uniform was first adopted at Christ's Hospital in the 16th century and many subsequent charitable foundations imitated this style of uniform, becoming known as bluecoat schools. The white neckbands derive from the similar neckgear worn by 18th century clergy while knee breeches were also added to the outfit in the Georgian period.
Blue was a favoured colour for charity school children because in Tudor and Stuart times it was the cheapest available dye for clothing. Blue-dyed materials were economical and implied a humble status and were accordingly avoided by gentlemen and the aristocracy.
This photograph from 1957 shows boys from Chetham's Hospital School in Manchester celebrating Founder's Day at the city's cathedral. Originally established for the education of 'forty poor boys', Chetham's has in recent years been transformed into a thriving specialist music school and nowadays the bluecoat costume is rarely worn.
Bluecoat boy of Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol (left); Chetham's pupils pictured at Founder's Day in 1983 (right)
This striking figure of a bluecoat boy can be seen in Hertford, on the gates of the forner Christ's Hospital junior school (subsequently the bluecoat girls school). The cap and yellow 'petticoat' no longer form part of the uniform.
These photographs show the present day uniform of Christ's Hospital School. Founded in the City of London in the reign of King Edward VI, the school moved to Horsham in Sussex at the turn of the century and now caters for both boys and girls. The boys' uniform consists of a long blue coat fastening with silver buttons, a narrow leather belt, knee breeches, yellow stockings and linen bands at the neck. A loose-fitting collarless shirt is worn beneath the coat. On occasions when a contingent from Christ's Hospital parades through the City of London (for example, onSt Matthew's Day each September, when pupils are entertained by the Lord Mayor) their unusual costume never fails to excite comment from puzzled onlookers.
The photograph below gives a clear view of the Christ's Hospital bluecoat. Note the length, reaching to below the ankles, and the capacious pleating. Years of managing the heavy skirted garment are said to develop a gait of measured dignity amongst the bluecoat boys.
Christ's Hospital is a boarding school and not so long ago pupils always travelled between home and school wearing the full bluecoat uniform. A boy who entered the school in 1968 recalls that 'I had to wear the distinctive uniform every day for lessons, on trips into the nearby town of Horsham, and on the long journey to and from school every term by bus, tube and train.'
Now that bluecoat boys are no longer required to traverse the country in their historic costume, the general public is much less familiar with this remarkable school uniform than it was in days gone by. Christ's Hospital School boasts its very own station and yellow-stockinged bluecoat boys could in times past be seen at railway terminuses across the kingdom at the beginning of a new term, embarking upon trains bound for Sussex.
Christ's Hospital is renowned for the musical training it offers to its pupils and the school boasts an excellent marching band. Several times a week in term time pupils march into lunch led by the band. The Christ's Hospital musicians also lead the school contingent through the streets of the City of London on St Matthew's Day in September and enjoy the privilege of heading the Lord Mayor's Show parade in November.
The noted 19th century essayist and man of letters Charles Lamb was a bluecoat boy and in his Essays of Elia provides a graphic account of the somewhat spartan life at Christ's Hospital School in Newgate two centuries ago. These charming illustrations are taken from an Edwardian edition of Lamb's book.
The Eton Suit..........Military
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The Traditional English Schoolboy
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