History
The College was founded on the 21 June 1619 by letters patent from King James I. Edward Alleyn marked its creation with a lavish feast and invited notable guests including the statesman Francis Bacon and the architect Inigo Jones, although the Archbishop of Canterbury “wase sick and cowld nott come”. The Foundation also included a chapel and almshouses for 12 poor men and women. The original site can still be seen beside the Dulwich Picture Gallery.
The 1850s saw a drive to improve academic rigour at the College, and many older statutes were repealed. Boys were no longer allowed “beer without stint” on Holy Days, nor was the headmastership given to whichever candidate drew the words “God’s Gift” from a bag. The resulting surge in pupil numbers led the school to move to the present buildings in 1870, where it has remained ever since.
Our Founder
Edward Alleyn was the first great celebrity actor of his age. Most associated with Christopher Marlowe’s titular characters, such as Dr. Faustus and Tamburlaine, his talent was praised by Ben Jonson, who wrote: “As others speak, but only thou dost act”.
Born in Bishopsgate in 1566 to a publican father, Alleyn rose to become the star of the Rose Playhouse, Bankside’s first theatre, and by 1600 he was the owner and manager of the Fortune Theatre. When he retired from acting, he resisted calls from Elizabeth I to return to the stage, however, he relented when asked to perform in the City of London’s welcome pageant for James I, delivering his lines “with a well-tuned, audible voice”.
Alleyn was a key player during one of the most creative and innovative periods of English theatre history, but he was also involved in the then-popular sport of bearbaiting and even baited a lion at the Tower of London. Having built his fortune, he bought the manorial estate of Dulwich, riding into London for business, as recorded by his surviving diary.
At the age of 53, perhaps because he had no children of his own, he established “Alleyn’s College of God’s Gift” (now Dulwich College) in the hope of sending poor scholars to university. He died in 1626 and is buried within the chapel he founded between the original school and almshouses.
Old Alleynians
In honour of the founder, former pupils of Dulwich College are known as “Old Alleynians” (OAs). Examples of notable OAs include the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, the authors P.G. Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler, and the actor Chiwetel Ejiofor OBE.
OAs make a significant contribution across a wide range of professions, and the College maintains strong links with former students through the Old Alleynian Association.
Fallen of the Great War 1914-18
Over 530 Old Alleynians died in the First World War. Their stories were originally collected in a War Record published in the 1920s. For the centenary of the conflict, the archive created the Fallen of the Great War 1914-1918 website, which is dedicated to their memory. On it you can find details of each OA’s war service, a map showing where they all lived when pupils at Dulwich, and any photographs, papers and letters we have relating to them.
The School Song
The School Song, Pueri Alleynienses¸was written by J.E.C. Welldon (Master 1883-85), and is sung on special school occasions. The first verse, and its translation, can be seen below.
Pueri Alleynienses, quotquot annos quotquot menses
Fertur principum memoria,
Vivit Fundatoris nomen, unicae virtutis omen
Detur soli Deo Gloria.
English translation
Boys of Alleyn, may our forefathers' memory
Endure through as many years and as many months as there may be,
The Founder's name lives on, a promise of unparalleled virtue to come,
Glory be given to God alone.
