2021
Introduction of Norwood and West Houses.
West is named in memory of John West (c. 1670-1723), a clothier, and his wife, Frances. In his 1719 Will, John West donated the proceeds from properties bought and rented out in the Reading area for the “education and maintenance of six poor boys” at our School: he stipulated they should be “dressed in blue” The residue from West’s investments was left to the Clothworkers’ Company in the City of London. Frances West also made a significant donation to a Reading orphanage, boys from which were “to be added to the Blue Coat School.” Removed as the name of a House in 1957, when the number of Houses was reduced from five to three, it was reinstated in 2021.
Norwood is named after Ann Norwood (c. 1740-1794), a property owner in Tilehurst, Reading, who had originally helped financially to support John Hall’s charity school. In her will, (dated 22nd July 1794), and written shortly before her death, Ann Norwood asked for some of the proceeds of her investments in Government securities to be used for “the better support of the Master or masters of the School.”
