The school was founded in 1509 by the will of Robert Beckingham, it was refounded in 1552 as King Edward VI's Grammer School. The buildings are grouped round a courtyard with the schoolhouse on the south side and the Masters and Ushers on the west and east respectively. The northern (High street) side was walled across with a first floor gallery, widened in 1650, connecting the two houses. A chained library containing mainly C16th centurey books is now kept there.