Victorian buildings, Collyer's College, Horsham

I had a hospital eye appointment today, so had to leave work early in order to go and across the road from the hospital are the fine Victorian buildings of the College of Richard Collyer which is today's picture. Richard Collyer was a Mercer in the City Of London and died in 1532. He directed in his will that if his children died underage or without an heir, one of his two London residences should be sold and the proceeds used to build a school for 60 boys in Horsham. Also the will said that his great mansion be given to The Mercer's Company as trustees to provide an endowment for the foundation for salaries and repairs. Sadly his children both died before reaching adulthood and so the school was built in 1540. The red brick Gothic building in the picture was built in 1892-3 at the expense of the Mercer's Company. It eventually became a State Boy's Grammar School before becoming the mixed Sixth Form College it is today. The College is really thriving and offers a very large range of courses post age 16. The older part of the buildings are quality Victorian and have large chimney stacks and some carved and painted shields are visible to the left of the lampost. Since this building was constructed, there have been many many additions and alterations giving the college first class facilities.