Panel C4
Expelled from School
Too Dull to Learn
Iconic Moment No. 2
Pile St. School 1757/8 Age: 5-6
Pile Street Charity School
Chatterton's Father
Was master of Pile Street School
When he died suddenly
On Friday 7th August 1752
Sarah, his Widow, was 21 years old
And six months Pregnant
With Thomas our Poet
She Faced an Uncertain Future
She had already given birth twice
Her first child, Mary,
Was Born 14th February, 1749
Her second, Giles Malpas,
Was born 12th December 1750
He died 4 months and 4 days later
On April 16, 1751.
It must have been a truly frightening
and stressful time for Sarah,
Who also stood to lose the Family Home
Fortunately, a little luck came her way,
Mr Chard, the new Master
of Pile Street school
Was not a family man
He chose to remain in his own house
Rather than the Master's House
However, Mr Chard retired in 1757
He was succeeded by Mr Love
Who needed the house for his own family
It seems that the Chatterton family
Lived in the schoolhouse from 1749 to 1757
They then moved to a house
By the upper gate of St Mary Redcliffe.
Poor Sarah had Problems Aplenty
Mr Love added to her Woes
Shortly after taking over
He expelled Chatterton
For being too dull to learn
Sarah was left with two children
To Home-school & Provide for
Joy of Joys,
Three years later, in 1760
Colston's Hospital School
Accepted Chatterton as a pupil
Complete with a built-in apprenticeship.
The Challenge
Resolve where the
Chatterton family lived
After leaving Pile Street.
According to James Ross,
The City Librarian,
It was Somewhere on
Redcliffe Hill
Near the Upper Gate of
Redcliffe Church
The Stereoview
Shows the Upper Gate
The Aerial View Shows
An Upper gate at both corners
Was Chatterton's home in the row
At the top of the image
