King James I School, Bishop Auckland, Durham
King James I Grammar School was founded because of the widow Anne Swyfte of Durham City. She petitioned that King James I should found a grammar school in North Auckland. When the King agreed and granted the Royal Seal, Anne Swyfte, on April 12th 1605, granted £10 a year to the Governors. The first building on this site was a schoolroom and house built in in 1864 and designed by Austin of Newcastle. Extensions were built in 1873-4 to accommodate boarders. The front block was built in 1897 in a Gothic Revival style. A large carved stone above the doorway has the inscription; SCHOLA REGIA AD 1605 AUCKLANDENSIS. There is also a late 20th century plaque on front of the building to commemorate Arthur Stanley Jefferson, (Laurel of Laurel and Hardy), who was a pupil in 1902-1903. In 2010 it is part of King James I Community Arts College.
