Final thoughts on Kibworth Grammar School Hall

25th April 2026 | Community

On Wednesday 1st April (not an April fool) the charity, Kibworth Grammar School Hall – also known as Kibworth Community Hub- charity number 1044822 was dissolved and the lease handed back to Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council.

A never to be repeated opportunity?

When did all this start?

90 years ago (1936) built to supplement the previous Grammar School Hall, dated 1725 still in use as apartments top of School Road which was itself built to replace 1630-ish building some fifty yards towards the present pedestrian railway bridge, likely close to land then known as the Warwick ¾ Acre. And that in its time replaced/supplemented lessons in houses which likewise followed lessons in the then spired St. Wilfrid’s Church, possibly using those porch stone seats – all dating from the mid-1300s when Robert Chapman (Kibworth Harcourt) and Roger de Stanesby (Smeeton Westerby) were able to donate land to a trust to start a school. So there is something here from 1359 to have a major influence on the Community Hub this month returning to Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council 667 years later.

How did parish council get involved?

On the last day of summer term 1993, as schoolchildren were homeward bound for summer holidays, I stood on the lawn of the School Road Headmaster’s House and played on cornet the Last Post, to mark the final day of use as a school of the School Road site. Shortly afterwards pupils got off the school bus from Robert Smyth School and gathered hoping to hear the Last Post. So there was both a Penultimate Post and a Last Post, very fitting after near seven centuries of secondary education  in Kibworth – one of the oldest in the kingdom.

Kibworth Chronicle December 1994 included a small but highly significant news item, from, the late, Beryl Tory , then Chairperson of Beauchamp Parish Council but writing as Chairman of the Grammar School Hall Working Party, which reported a well-attended Coffee Morning on 26 November (1994), “with a lot of interest shown , especially by ex-grammar school pupils,” and also noted that the Hall is to be bought by Harborough District Council for £75,000 which will have to be paid back by the Parish Council over a number of years; Also renovations, costing approx. £100,000 to be raised by grants and fund raising.

Two months later the Kibworth Chronicle February 1995 included a further note from Beryl, writing as KBPC Chairperson, stating that after HDC have purchased the hall from LCC, it will, subject to ratification by full HDC on 28th. February (1995), be sold to KBPC for £23,000 to be paid back over three years. Removal of asbestos, replacement of electrics, heating needing to be upgraded and zoned, collectively will cost in the region of £175,000. Later, Trustees forming a Grammar School Committee to manage it were appointed, this to include two Parish Councillors, one from Harcourt and one from Beauchamp.

So where are we now?

Last month the Grammar School Hall Trustees held their final meeting. To quote from their Chairman Martyn Wyburn in last December`s Chronicle, “It is with great regret, we have to inform you that from 31 March 2026 the charity, Kibworth Grammar School Hall (also known as Kibworth Community Hub , charity number 1044822 ) will be dissolved and the lease handed back to Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council.”  In the article Martyn noted; “…more and more tasks have fallen upon a small group of people and we are no longer able to meet The Hub`s needs.” He states this is the best option to secure the Hub’s long term future and the wish of all current trustees to remain involved. Immense gratitude is due for the endless hours given by many devoted folk to this cause over decades – they also all deserve a cornet fanfare for time and commitment.

Does it matter?

The Editor of the Chronicle thinks it does – referring to the “School’s incredible history… I think the main hall should still be called Kibworth Grammar School Hall and the current lounge to be called the Harcourt Room…perhaps the Library in the Beauchamp Room”. (Kibworth Chronicle 463).

The last Chair of the Community Hub thinks it does- “intend to name the rooms… in a way that reflects its role as a school.”. (Kibworth Chronicle 470). 

The last Headmaster to live in the School Road. House thought it does “…the School whose traditions are firmly rooted in past centuries.”(History of KBGS Foreword April 1957)

The first lay Headmaster thought it did – “the School appears to be one of the oldest in the kingdom.” (letter by then Head to Director of Education LCC – 1927). 

Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council thinks it does –“We want to promote and fill this fabulous building and return it to its former glory. We don’t want to forget the history of the place and will fill the walls eventually) with memorabilia of times from the past. The main hall will be renamed simply “The Grammar School Hall “to remind us of its history and retain its important connection from where it served the village as a school.” (KBPC release February 2026).

Their vision

I composed these thoughts looking at a locally framed photograph of a committed quartet on the steps of the School Road Headmaster’s House dating from 1930 –1933, the four gentlemen being Kibworth Rector Canon Fletcher, Head of Leicester’s Wyggeston Hospital Boys’ School, Canon Went, Director of Education Leicestershire, William Brockington and Head of Kibworth Beauchamp Grammar School John Edmundson Elliot. It was taken on Speech Day 1930/1/2 or 3. Showing an important local – the Rector ; A progressive Headmaster – the Wyggeston Head ; A key person in County Education – the Director ; and the young enthusiastic MA recently appointed as KBGS Head, No Consultants, No Focus Groups, No Design Specialists, No Planning Associates , – but instead a quartet of Vision, Drive , Planning , Determination. Just a few years later the 1936 Grammar School Hall was built, up and running.

Our vision 

One thing`s for certain – it’s not going to be cheap – and there are many calls on Parish funds. Indeed, at last month’s Parish Council £8,122.53 was and had to be, agreed for routine matters concerning the transfer of the GSH/Hub to KBPC – and of course, much more to come. So a quartet of practical suggestions to get off the ground which will cost much less and some of them nothing:-

1) Illustrated Date Chart welcoming the visitor through seven centuries. I believe such a display which was in the High School Smeeton Road site years ago is still in safe keeping in the village.

2) Alumini listing the Cultural, Sporting, Government, Media, Diplomatic and Royal Service areas of this nation’s past wherein ex- Kibworth Grammar/High students have been/are still prominent. It could be ongoing, including present and future students of Kibworth Mead. (Details Kibworth Chronicle Oct.2022)

3) Naming of Rooms as suggested above.

4) Photographs taken over the last  100 years, framed in Kibworth, available.

P.S. A most dependable member of the Chronicle volunteers, now sadly passed on, would regularly offer advice when any editing, large or small, required attention at Lay-Up, – She would suggest, if possible, to “Do it now!” 

Roger Garratt

Ex pupil/student teacher KBGS.

Teacher KHS.