Buckland is remembered as the man who, in 1824, identified the megalosaur on the basis of a jawbone and other fossil remains found in Stonesfield, near Oxford.īut that January weekend at Denmark Hill was not entirely laden with anxiety about the Birmingham post.

He believed and argued that such a system would revitalise Oxford and give the Church more power over more people and would consequently flourish as a tree 'that is planted by the river’s side'.ĭr. At the back of his mind was the Careswell Scholarship at Bridgnorth School that fed into Christ Church. He also proposed links with National Schools and Grammar Schools to Oxford. So Gordon proposed a scheme for existing Oxford Colleges to take '300 poor scholars' to reside in 'an affiliated Hall to be governed by a Resident Fellow'. As one who had received a scholarship, he was aware of the large numbers of poorer scholars whose parents could not afford an Oxbridge education for their sons. In this plea for respect for the individual, Gordon was thinking not only of himself but more likely his student, John Ruskin. One of his suggestions was that a 'much freer play would be given to the genius of individual minds, and to talent of all sorts, within the system, both in respect of matter and of time'. Before the Long Vacation in 1847 he published a pamphlet entitled 'Considerations on the Improvement of the Present Examination Statute and the Admission of Poor Scholars to the University'. Gordon took a keen interest in education at all levels. But such a post of responsibility would nevertheless have suited Gordon and given him the chance to shape young people's lives. He was rejected on the grounds of his lack of experience of leading a school, as Mrs Ruskin explained to her husband in a letter of 3 February 1848: 'Gordon does not go to Birmingham, they want one who has kept school before' (Lutyens2 82n). Gordon was unsuccessful in spite of at least twenty-eight testimonials by Oxonions (including John Ruskin) in support of his application (Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS. He shared his concerns with Ruskin, who then informed his fiancée Effie Gray that Gordon was 'anxious about this Birmingham affair' (Lutyens, The Ruskins and the Grays 81. Gordon may have been invited with this express purpose in mind: John James and Margaret Ruskin would have been ready to give advice. His weekend stay at the Ruskin family home, from Saturday until Monday 22-24 January, provided him with a much-needed opportunity to discuss the consequences of his action (JJR Diary). It would have meant severing his links with Christ Church and he was uncertain about his decision. When the headship of King Edward VI School, Birmingham, became vacant in 1847, Gordon, then aged thirty-four, applied for the post. Her spinster sister, Martha Onions, took over many of her responsibilities: she is listed as the head of the household at Linley Hall in the census of 30 March 1851. Orlando Forester (SA, Shrewsbury, Register of Burials in the Parish of Broseley.). Her burial took on New Year’s Day, 1847, at Broseley: the ceremony was performed by the Rev. Gordon’s mother, Elizabeth, died at Linley Hall, during the Christmas vacation, on 27 December 1846. Illustrated London News (24 November 1860): 502.īut the year ended with personal sadness. Left: Entrance Gateway of Westminster School. The following year the degree of Bachelor in Divinity was conferred upon him. Henry George Liddell who left Oxford to become Headmaster of Westminster School. In 1846 he was appointed University Reader in Greek, and Proctor in the University and Censor of Christ Church in succession to the Rev. Ruskin was now turning his attention to architecture, to the churches and cathedrals of France and Italy. This was yet another long continental tour. Perhaps apprehensive about public reactions to the work, Ruskin and his parents left England before its publication, and did not return until late September. Modern Painters II was published on 24 April 1846, and received generally favourable reviews.

Gordon had two brothers, Alexander and William. In late March 1846, at a small party at Denmark Hill, guests listed in John James's diary were Lady Colquhoun and Monro (both close friends of John James), and 'Gordon & Brother' (JJR Diary).

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