JOHN POUNDS 1766 - 1839.
John Pounds, born in 1766 in Old Portsmouth, was one of the pioneers of the free education system in the UK.
At the age of 12 he became an apprentice shipwright in the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth, however at the age of 15 he became disabled following an accident in which he fell into a dry dock, breaking his thigh.
Later he became a cobbler, working from a shop in St Mary's Street, now Highbury Street, Old Portsmouth.
He began teaching children for free, at first his nephew Johnny and later friends of Johnny, while repairing shoes in his workshop, teaching reading, maths, cookery, carpentry and shoe making.
The classes became ever more popular, some times up to 50 children attended at a time, all this in his 6 foot by 18 foot workshop.
In time 3 schools inspired by Pounds were opened at Portsea and Fratton and the John Pounds Training Home for Girls, these schools were known as the "ragged schools".
The movement spread and eventually there were approximately 200 "ragged schools" set up for the education of destitute children across the country.
Following his death in 1839 a group of Portsmouth ladies vowed to continue Pounds work caring for and educating poor or neglected children.
The house that they used in Kent Road was destroyed during the 2nd world war, but the compensation money awarded by the War Commisioners
was used by the Reverand John Sturges to set up the John Pounds Trust in 1957.
The Trust continues to provide financial support for children's education
in the Portsmouth area.
John Pounds is buried behind the Unitarian Church in the High Street, Old Portsmouth, this building was destroyed during the
second world war but was rebuilt in 1956 and is now called the John Pounds Memorial Church, in the grounds of this church a
replica of his workshop has been built. His name is also honoured at the newly opened £7 million John Pounds Community
Centre in Portsea.
