Old Grammar School (Market Harborough)
![[An image showing Old Grammar School]](/images/photos/Market Harborough old grammar school 039.jpg)
The Old Grammar School is a picturesque building in the heart of the old Leicestershire market town of Market Harborough.
Standing in the High Street, it forms an appealing group with St. Dionysius Church and the former Symington's corset factory.
It was founded by Robert Smyth, a local man who made his fortune in London. He gave the money in 1607 and it was built in 1614.
The building was from the outset used as the Grammar School, but he ground floor was left open, to be used as a covered space for market stalls.
It is timber framed, and has pargeted plasterwork, unusually outside Essex. The Biblical texts were chosen by Smyth himself.
The upper room is occasionally used as a meeting room.
Outside is a bench, in memory of Jack Gardner, a local man who won the British heavyweight boxing title.
The Robert Smyth School still functions, in a modern site a few minutes walk away. An old boy is Martin Johnson, former captain of the England Rugby team.