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Lord Monson's Schooldays:
Reminiscences of Mitcham 1804-1809
Local History Notes 17: by William John Monson, 6th Baron Monson (1853), transcribed by Elizabeth Crisp, edited with biographical and other notes by E N Montague and Judith Goodman
Many of Mitcham's large houses were occupied as private schools in the 18th and 19th centuries. For most of these we have no knowledge of life and learning. For one of these schools, however, we have a unique account - the sixth Baron Monson's reminiscences of his schooldays at the Revd Richard Roberts' Academy, in the house known in recent times as Glebelands.
Many of Lord Monson's Mitcham schoolfellows later became prominent in politics, the church and society. His memoirs give interesting glimpses of some great men when they were boys.
Lord Monson's 'Reminiscences of Mitcham' were acquired by Mitcham Library in 1952. From the author's remarks at the end of the book it is clear that his memoirs were drafted in 1858, after visiting Mitcham with Lady Monson on the 4th May that year. The manuscript was completed four years later, shortly before his death.
This transcript is from a typescript copy made in the 1970s by Elizabeth Crisp of Merton Historical Society, but has been verified against the original. Editing has been minimal. Lord Monson's spelling and punctuation have been retained. His 'postscripts', which were written on the blank pages facing his manuscript pages, have been inserted in [ ] after the related passages.
This edition includes 12 pages of biographical and other notes, a 3-page Brief History of Glebelands and a 3-page Index of Persons.
Extract from the Introduction
