WILLIAM GEORGE RUSHBROOKE (1849-1926)

13 Cathcart Hill, c. 1878-1926 (48 years)

Born in Ampthill, Bedfordshire in 1849, W. G. Rushbrooke was to become one of the finest teachers of his day. As a child William boarded at Salway House, a preparatory school in Leyton. Salway’s principal, Dr J.R.  Aldom was a prominent Wesleyan Methodist who would regularly march his charges to chapel. Aged thirteen, William then continued his education at the City of London School, then located near Cheapside He was Captain of the School when he left C.L.S. in 1868 and remained a life-long friend of Dr. Abbott, the school’s then headmaster. A brilliant academic, Rushbooke  gained a scholarship at St. John’s College, Cambridge University and graduated as sixth Classic in 1872, later being elected a Fellow.  Almost immediately he was to return to his old school, City of London as Second Classical Master, a post that he held for more than twenty years.

• 

• 

• 

These three titles were all published whilst W.G. Rushbrooke was living at No. 13 Cathcart Hill and teaching Classics at the City of London School. The Common Tradition of the Synoptic Gospels was written with his former headmaster, Edwin A. Abbott.

City of London School was originally in Milk Street near Cheapside.  It relocated to new premises in Blackfriars in 1883. W. G. Rushbrooke  taught at both addresses in his 21 years with the school. C.L.S. was (and is) a day school and those pupils that required boarding would have to lodge with one of the masters. And so it was with Mr Rushbrooke at No. 13 Cathcart Hill. Mr Rushbrooke was a keen cricket player and as enough boys were boarding at his house it was decided that they would form their very own cricket elevens team. The Cathcart Hill Cricket Club was born.

• 

• 

Presentation by the masters to Mr Rushbrooke. In 1893 was appointed headmaster of St Olave’s Grammar School in Southwark where he remained until 1922. In addition W.G. Rushbrooke was also made Dean of the College of Preceptors from 1911-1926.

• 

•