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Christ's Hospital is a public school (English fee-charging boarding school for pupils aged 11–18) with a royal charter, located to the south of Horsham in West Sussex. The school was founded in 1552 and the royal charter granted in 1553 (26 June, 7 Edw. VI).
Learn more about the history of Christ's Hospital, one of the oldest boarding schools in England, established in 1552 by King Edward VI.
Short History. Christ’s Hospital (CH) is one of the famous Royal Hospitals of London, whose foundation marked the beginning of the social services in Tudor England.
The instantly recognisable uniform is possibly the oldest in existence and has hardly altered since Tudor times. It consists of a long blue coat, belted at the waist, worn with matching knee breeches, yellow socks and white neck bands. The girls wear the same coat, but with matching skirt.
CH, founded for the orphan children of poor Londoners, was given its Royal Charter in 1553 by Edward VI, as part of a foundation which included St Thomas’s Hospital (for the sick) and Bridewell Hospital (for idle vagabonds). CH used the old Grey Friars Monastery buildings which Henry VIII had given to the City of London in 1546.
The icons on this page lead to an introduction to the history of CH, through a brief written history and a Timeline which identifies many of the key historical events.. The watercolour on the left by Arthur Ellis, which is on display in the Museum, shows the Grecians’ Arch in Newgate Street, London.
Discover. Christ’s Hospital Museum represents and celebrates almost 500 remarkable years of history of one of the oldest boarding schools in England. In 1552 the young King Edward VI responded to an impassioned sermon on the needs of London’s poor, following which he wrote to the Lord Mayor of London, to set in motion charitable measures to help.
