The seal

Though a charter was granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1585, it was only in 1597 when the Farrars of Midgley gave the Trustees two acres of land that they needed a common seal.

The inscription reads:

SIGIL[UM] · LIBE[RAE] · GRAM[MATICALIS] · SCHOL[AE] · R[EGINA] · ELIZ[ABETHAE] · VICARIAT[US] · HALIFAX[ENSIS]

The words on the open book are understood to be:

Qui mihi discipulus, Puer, es, cupis et [doceri]

the first line of an exhortation to young people in William Lily’s Institvtio compendiaria totivs grammaticae published in 1540 by Thomae Bertheleti of London.

For some time, notwithstanding the protestations of John Bunch, it had been thought that the original seal had been lost; but it has now turned up and can be viewed in all its glory.

Oval seal with the first text above round the rim and, from top to bottom, a rose, an open book and a portcullis
Seal

Arthur Owen sent the seal off to the Public Records Officer for authentication in 1966. Here is their reply:

Seal with ribband spread across the top of the first page of letter from the Public Record Officer
Letter of authentication (page 1)
Seal with ribband spread across the top of the second page of letter from the Public Record Officer
Letter of authentication (page 2)

With thanks to Jim Farrell [Heath 1977–1982].