High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Royal Grammar School (originally "The Free School") is a selective English independent day school for boys in Guildford, Surrey. The school dates its founding to the death of Robert Beckingham in 1509 who left provision in his will to `make a free scole at the Towne of Guldford`; in 1512 a governing body was set up to form the school. The school moved to the present site in the upper High Street after the granting of a royal charter from King Edward VI in 1552. The school`s Old Building, constructed between 1557 and 1586 is home to a rare example of a chained library established on the death of John Parkhurst, Bishop of Norwich, in 1575. Although defined as a "free" school, the first statues of governance approved in 1608 saw the introduction of school fees, at the rate of 4 shillings per annum, along with the school`s first admissions test. During the late 19th century the school ran into considerable financial difficulty, which resulted in the near closure of the school. A number of rescue options were explored including amalgamation with Archbishop Abbott`s School. Funds were eventually raised, however, which allowed the school to remain open, although boarding was no longer offered.