The Monastic song school was founded between 1430 and 1432 and had its home, until 1539, on the south side of the Sanctuary wall. John Stele was appointed to teach certain monks and eight secular boys in plainsong.  They practised in the Chapter House which disturbed the monks reading in the cloisters, so a special practice room was built at the south end of the Nine Altars Chapel. In June 1633 Charles the First visited the cathedral on his progress to Scotland. He criticised some of the outbuildings including the song school so it was demolished and set up in the south transept.

 

At the Restoration in 1660 to 1661 the song school was again moved; this time to the west side of the cloisters, where it stayed until the end of the nineteenth century. In Bishop Cosin’s visitation of 1662 he made extensive enquires concerning both the schooling and the deportment of the choristers asking if they all were properly attired in gowns and clean surplices, also that the music was carefully laid out before the service so that no running about during the service was incurred. This was endorsed more fully by Dean in 1680 to 1681, who complained of boys running to and fro during the services and, with the lay clerks, laughing, lolling about in the stalls and even sleeping.

 

The following is attributed to the headmaster from 1957 to 1978 Reverend John Grove.

"What were the boys like in days gone by? And the answer must surely be that they were the same as they are today. There may have been changes in fashions but the boy is eternally the same. His characteristics do not change. There is an infinite variety in boyhood but some things remain constant. There are, and always have been good boys and bad boys and the latter sometimes more attractive than the former; boys who sing and look like angels in the choir stalls, but to whom once they are out of the cathedral, fighting and ragging are the breath of life; boys who only work under pressure and boys to whom it comes naturally, boys who are fussy about what they eat and are careless about their property, boys who note the eccentricities of their elders, particularly the Dean and Chapter, and imitate them mercilessly; boys who are self–centred and boys who are generous; boys with a great sense of fun and an immense capacity for loyalty; boys who have a great sense of pride in the cathedral and feel deeply about it; boys whose behaviour can be exasperating and yet in themselves are essentially loveable. These are the generations who have made the school what it is, and throughout the ages have not changed".

 

 

The following is taken from Of Choristers – ancient and modern a history of cathedral choir schools which can be found at www.ofchoristers.net/Chapters/Durham.htm

 

History