Matthew Humberstone School

Matthew Humberstone Church of England School, often shortened to MHS or, more affectionately, Matty, was a comprehensive school in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England, with a Church of England tradition. The school was a specialist Business and Enterprise College and the only Church of England secondary school in North East Lincolnshire. It was established in September 1973 through the amalgamation of Beacon Hill Secondary School and Humberston Foundation School. The school remained in this form until September 2013 when in a further amalgamation it transformed into Saint Andrew's College (now Holy Family Catholic Academy).HistoryMatthew HumberstonThe original school was founded in 1823 by Matthew Humberston, born in Homerton, London in 1649, reputed to be a foundling. He became a London customs officer and becoming very wealthy, bought up land in Humberston. There he rebuilt the church and occupied a manor house where he died on a visit from London in 1709. In his will he left £1,000 to rebuild the church steeple and a gift of £500 to establish a Free Grammar School and almshouses, allowing £44 per year for the vicar to also act as headmaster of the school. Much legal wrangling followed of the will provisions and the £500 grew through investments to £24,867. This was used to build a school next to the vicarage at a cost of £700. It was opened in October 1823 with 105 boys on the list. Over 100 years had elapsed since the death of Matthew Humberstone.The last headmaster of the old school was appointed in 1876. He was Dr John Morgan, vicar of Humberstone. The Charity Commissioners ordered the closure of the school and its transfer to a new site in Clee Road. The old school closed in 1878 and the sum of £13,022 was available for the building of the new school. It was ruled that future headmasters should not hold any benefice having "the care of souls".