– Investigation into History of a School’s Uniform
Published in Windlesora 03 (1984)
© WLHG
A chance remark, and a reference in the original Royal Free School log from the Windsor and Eton Express dated late December 1867 about the uniform, has prompted a serious study on the history of the School’s uniform.
The Dress Department, encouraged by the headmaster’s enthusiasm, is investigating this subject with the hope that it can be traced from the original Free School established in 1705 to the present PMRF school.
In 1726 the school building was completed, now a masonic hall in the north-east corner of the Parish churchyard, and in 1859 the Free School merged with the Windsor National School (founded in 1819). It was re-named The Royal Free and Industrial School and moved to new buildings on Batchelor’s Acre in 1862. In the Windsor and Eton Express dated December 20th 1867 there is a mention that:
“The familiar dress so long worn as the uniform of the boys of the Free Schools – blue coat with brass buttons, saucer cap and corduroy trousers – is now changed to a dark cloth jacket, dark grey trousers, and a peaked cap with a narrow red piping round the crown.”
Windsor and Eton Express dated December 20th 1867
This is the first reference we have regarding uniform.
In- 1939 the senior girls at the Royal Free School were transferred to Clewer St. Stephen’s School which had been formed in 1922 by the amalgamation of St. Stephen’s Intermediate School (1899) and St. Stephen’s Girls’ School (1906). This school in Vansittart Road was renamed in 1944 to commemorate the patronage of the then H.R.H. Princess Margaret Rose.
We hope eventually to present a mini-pageant with uniforms, original or copied, photographs, sketches and information outlining the social reasons for change. Up to now these disjointed references form the basis of our information with more leads to investigate. We would, however, appreciate any help from readers in the form of information or reminiscences, photographs or actual garments which we could borrow, on any aspect of the uniforms up to 1978.
Joan Toseland
Head of Dress, PMRF School, Windsor
Windsor Local History Group 