The Old Grammar School

The Old Grammar School stands at the top of Fore Street in Kingsbridge, Devon. Built in 1670, it was founded by Thomas Crispin, a local wool merchant who later became Master of the Company of Weavers in Exeter. The building originally housed two large schoolrooms and a house for the headmaster. It served as Kingsbridge Grammar School until the 19th century, when the school moved to new premises. The museum now occupies the restored structure, preserving its historic classrooms and master’s residence. The site overlooks the town’s main street, linking past and present. The museum is named after William Cookworthy, a local pharmacist and Quaker who developed the first true hard-paste porcelain in England. His achievements are celebrated alongside exhibits tracing the region’s history from prehistoric times to the modern day. A notable display features a painting of Thomas Cobley, a Kingsbridge native who rose to prominence in 18th-century Russia. Cobley’s career included military service, city administration, and efforts to combat a plague in Odesa. The painting, commissioned in the 19th century, links the town to wider European history. Visitors find rooms arranged as they were in the 17th century, with original features such as the schoolmaster’s quarters and the two large teaching spaces. Displays include local artefacts, photographs, and documents from the South Hams region. Temporary exhibitions focus on themes like wartime history, maritime rescues, and musical traditions. The museum’s setting, atop Fore Street, offers views over Kingsbridge and its surrounding countryside. It provides a quiet space to explore the area’s past while standing in a building that has witnessed centuries of change.