Laurence Sheryff, Lawrence Sheriff Street, Rugby, Warwickshire. - Blue Plaques on Waymarking.com

Laurence Sheryff, also spelt Lawrence and Sheriff or Sheriffe was most probably born in Rugby near St. Andrew's Church in about 1510, but some say 1516. He was an Elizabethan gentleman and grocer to Elizabeth I who founded Rugby School. His coat of arms was granted in 1559 - the main feature of which is a griffin, the traditional guardian of treasures - and can be seen in the versions of their coats of arms used by both Rugby School and the Lawrence Sheriff School.

Sheriff was apprenticed to a London grocer, William Walcott, and he went to London ending his apprenticeship in 1541. He became a London grocer during the reign of King Henry VIII and in 1554 was elected to the 'Worshipful Company of Grocers'. Sheriff became grocer to many of the great and good of the day including Princess (later Queen) Elizabeth. He became trusted by the Queen and rose to the rank of gentleman, whereupon he was granted his coat of arms.

He earned a great fortune through his life, but remained childless, and upon his death in 1567, he stipulated in his will that his fortune should be used to found four almshouses for the oldest and poorest men of Rugby and Brownsover and a school "to serve chiefly for the children of Rugby and Brownsover... and next for such as be of other places hereunto adjoyneing."

He's buried at the old Grey Friars Church in Newgate Street, London, but no trace remains as the church and all its monuments were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. He is remembered today by the Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby.

For further information see: Laurence Sheryff

The plaque is attached to the wall of the Old Quad Buildings of Rugby School, on the road-side, which are on the south side of Lawrence Sheriff Street. It also commemorates 75 years of Rotary International in Rugby.

Blue Plaque managing agency: Rugby Borough Council Individual Recognized: Laurence Sheryff Physical Address: Old Quad Buildings Lawrence Sheriff Street, Rugby, , Warwickshire UK CV22 5EH Web Address: Not listed

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