John Freeston facts for kids
John Freeston (born 1512, died 1594) was an important lawyer from Altofts, a town in West Yorkshire, England. He joined a famous legal society called Gray's Inn in London in 1544. Gray's Inn is a place where lawyers train and work.
After his death, John Freeston left a large sum of money, £500, to start a school in Normanton. This was a very generous gift, especially for his time. He also set up a special program called a scholarship. This scholarship helped students from Normanton go to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, a well-known university. Later, in 1607, the scholarship was moved to another college at Cambridge, Sidney Sussex College.
Freeston's School Legacy
John Freeston's will, which is a legal document explaining what to do with his money after he died, said that £25 should go to the school every year. This money was meant to pay for building the school and for the teacher's salary.
The School's Journey
The school that John Freeston planned did not stay open for a very long time. However, the money he left continued to grow over the years. By 1890, an investigation found that the original £500 had increased a lot, reaching £400 each year!
From Fund to Academy
Because the fund had grown so much, people decided to use the money for a new purpose. They chose to set up a secondary school for the town of Normanton. This new school is now known as the Freeston Academy. It continues John Freeston's dream of providing education for young people in the area.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in West Yorkshire
