Lyttelton Grammar School

This small school, built in the grounds of Great Malvern Priory served the parish and was the only grammar school in Malvern (the nearest others being Hanley Castle and Worcester Royal Grammar Schools). The Lyttelton Grammar School was founded in 1874, with the expressed intent to help supply boys for the choir, and using the old Sunday school room as the school premises. This had been built by Lady Lyttelton in 1817 and rebuilt in 1886.

The appointment of Dr Louis Hamand, in 1910, and Mr Thornton as Headmaster from 1903 until 1933, can be seen as one of the high points of music at the Priory, with daily rehearsals for the boys to prepare for the Cathedral-style repertoire. As well as being a distinguished musician, Dr Hamand was also noted for his skills in both writing and painting. Indeed his book on the stained glass windows in the Priory is still being sold and all of the artwork in the book is his own.

The 1940s saw a change of fortunes for music at the Priory. The war had a disastrous effect on the choir with many of the men being unable to sing regularly. By 1946, the Lyttelton School was forced to close due to financial difficulties. The elderly Dr Hamand retired in 1946 and was replaced by John Durham Holl who had the difficult task of rebuilding the depleted choir without the help of the choir school.

Lyttelton Grammar School as seen today where it used as a church hall.

The Memorial

The memorial is compiled from newspaper reports.

Acknowledgments:

Malvern Priory Organ Website 2003

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