A brief history of Royal College
Rev. Joseph Henry Marsh (Snr) who
was the Colonial Chaplain of St. Paul's Church started a private academy
with 20 students, mainly from the upper class Burgher community in the
Church premises in early January 1835. The students of this area called the
private academy the "Hill Street Academy" as it was situated at Hill Street,
Pettah (now a small chapel of St. Paul has been built to mark the site of
the former church). After a few months, residents of Colombo noticed the
good work done at the private academy and they petitioned the Governor to
establish a school to be operated by the government for young men to gain a
good education. They also requested him that Rev. Joseph Marsh should be
appointed as the Head Master of the school. The Governor of Ceylon His
Excellency Sir Robet Wilmot Horton acceded to both requests of the citizens
and converted Marsh's private academy to a government school, which was
named "Colombo Academy" on 4th of January 1836. Rev. Joseph March was
appointed as the Head Master of the School and he continued his duties till
1838. The "Colombo Academy" was the first public school in Ceylon. In
January 1836, the school was shifted to a bungalow, which was the
intersection of the Moor Street and Messenger Street, Pettah (This bungalow
is not existent at present and has been replaced with high rise flats). The
upstairs served as Rev. Marsh's bungalow and rest of the building as the
school, and after a few months, in July 1836 the school was moved to San
Sebastian Hill, Pettah, it was a stable location for the school for more
than 75 years before being shifted to Thurstan Road (at present these
buildings are used by the Police Mounted Division, Colombo)' During the
period of Rev. Dr. Barcroft Boake the school's name was changed to Colombo
Academy and Queen's College in 1859 and after a much debate it was renamed
Colombo Academy in 1869. On his retirement, he was offered a Silver tea pot
by his grateful pupils but he left the tea pot to the school and is now in
the custody of the Royal College Principal, also in his will he left 250 and
it was used to build the College main gates which are known as "Boake
Memorial Gates".
Principal George Todd introduced
College Colours Royal Blue and Gold" in 1877 and the school motto "DISCE AUT
DISCEDE" was first mentioned. The biggest milestone in the history was
changing the name of the school. Her Majesty Queen Victoria acknowledged the
school and gave permission to bear the name Royal College by a request from
the Principal J. B. Cull in 1881. This was the only school in the world
after Eton and Harrow, the two leading schools in England to be acknowledged
by a Queen of England. The Gasette Notification giving Her Majesty Queen
Victoria's approval to change the name of the school was appeared on 31 st
of July 1881. "The Colombo Academy" became "Royal College" on 1st of August
1881. During the period of Principal Charles Hartley, the government made
land available for a new building at Thurstan Road, Colombo. The foundation
stone was laid by the Governor of Ceylon His Excellency Sir Henry McCallum
on 31st of May 1911. When the constructions were completed the school was
trnsferred to the new building on 27thy of August 1913 (building are now
used by the University of Colombo). The school roll was 152 at that time.
Principal Hartley introduced the house system in 1918. The names of the
houses were Cinnamon Gardens, Colpetty, Bambalapitiya North and
Bambalapitiya South. After a few years, plans for a new Royal College were
drawn up. Construction of the buildings was commenced at Reid Avenue in
August 1919. The Governor of Ceylon His Excellency Sir Williams Manning
formally declared open the new buildings on 10th of October 1923 (which is
our present premises). The foundation stone originally laid by the Governor
Sir Robert Wilmot Horton to the Colombo Academy at San Sebastian Hill in
1836, has adorned the wall at the entrance of the Royal College main
building since 1922. Principal Maj. H. L. Reed reorganized the house system
in 1921 replacing the old names to Marsh, Boake, Harward and Hartley, named
after the greatest Principals and in addition to above names Reed House was
added to the house system in 1970 on behalf of the immense service he has
done for the college.
Principal Reed introduced the new
College Crest in 1922. It was a shield with an Elephant and a palm tree at
the centre surrounded by the school motto "Disce Aut Discede" and the laurel
wreath. The British Crown was placed on top of a scroll with a wording of
salutation "Floreat" which means, "May it blossom" and initials RC appearing
at the bottom of the shield. He also composed the College Song "School of
our Fathers" in 1927. Principal L. H. W. Sampson introduced the College Flag
with Crest to the school. He was the Principal at Royal's centenary year in
1935. E. L. Bradby assumed duties as the Principal during the time of World
War II. With the bombing of Colombo by the Japanese in 1942, orders from the
British army to vacate the school for the building to use as a military
hospital and later as army barracks. The school was first moved to our old
premises at Thurstan Road and then moved to four bungalows at Turret Road in
1943 (now Dharmapala Mawatha). The names of the bungalows were Carlton
Lodge, Turret House, Sudharshana and Firdoshi. Principal Bradby started the
Bandarawela branch of Royal College in 1942. It was known as "GLENDALE". At
the end of World War II, all were transported back to Reid Avenue by the
Principal J. C. A. Corea on 18th of May 1946. However the branch school was
continued for a period of 3 more years and was closed in 1948 (it is now the
home of Bandarawela Maha Vidyalaya). A small change in the College Crest was
done in 1956. That is the substitutions of the Crown of the Kings of Kandy
in place of the Crown of British monarch. Mr. S. J. D. E Dissanayake and Mr.
W. A. Wickramasena, who were the staff members of the school composed in
1968 by the same combination. In August 1977 the Royal Junior School and
Royal College were amalgamated as one school under Principal L. D. H. Peiris.
The population was then increased to nearly 6700 students. Royal College
celebrated its 150th Anniversary in 1985 while C. T. M. Fernando as the
Principal College being the oldest public in the country has now come a long
way having a proud history and unique traditions of 172 years.
Lasal Jayatillake
Prefect 2006/2007
Back
