In 1877, with the resignation of its long-serving Master Frederick Hookey Bond, the school was closed, awaiting the appointment of a new Master and a reorganisation.<ref>”Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School”, ”Salisbury and Winchester Journal”, Saturday 28 April 1877, p. 7</ref> By 1880, it was again open, under a new scheme, and in December put on a prize-giving event.<ref>”Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School”, ”Salisbury and Winchester Journal”, Friday 24 December 1880, p. 7</ref> But by the 1890s, the school had dwindled to only six boys, taking intermittent lessons in a single room.<ref name=”vch”/> In April 1899, the school was reported to be at a low ebb when its Master, the Rev. H. Tootell, accepted the [[benefice]] of Overton-cum-Fyfield and [[Alton Priors]] and resigned his post, with effect from the next term.<ref name=HT>”Marlborough Grammar School”, ”Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette”, Thursday 13 April 1899, p. 7</ref> This led to another closure,<ref name=”vch” /> as in May it was agreed not to appoint a new Master until a new scheme had been agreed.<ref>”Marlborough Grammar School”, ”Marlborough Times”, Saturday 13 May 1899, p. 5</ref> However, reporting the school’s demise in August, the ”Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette” told its readers {{Quote|”We have no doubt the old foundation, Marlborough Grammar School, with its 11 close scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge, will some day again occupy a leading position in the county.”<ref>”THE PROGRESS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION”, ”Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette”, Thursday 31 August 1899, p. 6</ref>}}
In 1877, with the resignation of its long-serving Master Frederick Hookey Bond, the school was closed, awaiting the appointment of a new Master and a reorganisation.<ref>”Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School”, ”Salisbury and Winchester Journal”, Saturday 28 April 1877, p. 7</ref> By 1880, it was again open, under a new scheme, and in December put on a prize-giving event.<ref>”Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School”, ”Salisbury and Winchester Journal”, Friday 24 December 1880, p. 7</ref> But by the 1890s, the school had dwindled to only six boys, taking intermittent lessons in a single room.<ref name=”vch”/> In April 1899, the school was reported to be at a low ebb when its Master, the Rev. H. Tootell, accepted the [[benefice]] of Overton-cum-Fyfield and [[Alton Priors]] and resigned his post, with effect from the next term.<ref name=HT>”Marlborough Grammar School”, ”Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette”, Thursday 13 April 1899, p. 7</ref> This led to another closure,<ref name=”vch” /> as in May it was agreed not to appoint a new Master until a new scheme had been agreed.<ref>”Marlborough Grammar School”, ”Marlborough Times”, Saturday 13 May 1899, p. 5</ref> However, reporting the school’s demise in August, the ”Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette” told its readers {{Quote|”We have no doubt the old foundation, Marlborough Grammar School, with its 11 close scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge, will some day again occupy a leading position in the county.”<ref>”THE PROGRESS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION”, ”Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette”, Thursday 31 August 1899, p. 6</ref>}}
After gaining grants from [[Wiltshire County Council]] and others, it was reported in January 1904 that the Governing Body of the school had accepted a tender from Downing and Rudman, of Chippenham, to pull down the old school and build a new one at a cost of £6,000.<ref>”Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser”, Saturday 30 January 1904, pp. 11, 12</ref>
After gaining grants from [[Wiltshire County Council]] and others, it was reported in January 1904 that the Governing Body of the school had accepted a tender from Downing and Rudman, of Chippenham, to pull down the old school and build a new one at a cost of £6,000<ref>”Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser”, Saturday 30 January 1904, pp. 11, 12</ref>
In October 1905, the school reopened in new buildings on the same site, now formally known as Marlborough Grammar School and taking the form of a mixed school for eighty boys and girls, with a new headmaster, Sidney Pontefract.<ref name=Wharton/><ref name=JC/> Most of the pupils were still boys, as the town’s parents, particularly those of girls, were doubtful about co-education.<ref name=Wharton/> Two classrooms were added in 1932, and by 1938 there were 300 pupils.<ref name=”vch” /> A larger site to the south of the town was bought in 1936, but war and the subsequent restrictions prevented any building work there.<ref name=”vch” /> In 1947 a [[boarding school|boarding-house]] for both sexes was established at Wye House.<ref name=”vch”/>
In October 1905, the school reopened in new buildings on the same site, now formally known as Marlborough Grammar School and taking the form of a mixed school for eighty boys and girls, with a new headmaster, Sidney Pontefract.<ref name=Wharton/><ref name=JC/> Most of the pupils were still boys, as the town’s parents, particularly those of girls, were doubtful about co-education.<ref name=Wharton/> Two classrooms were added in 1932, and by 1938 there were 300 pupils.<ref name=”vch” /> A larger site to the south of the town was bought in 1936, but war and the subsequent restrictions prevented any building work there.<ref name=”vch” /> In 1947 a [[boarding school|boarding-house]] for both sexes was established at Wye House.<ref name=”vch”/>
