York Bluecoat School

The school was founded by the City of York Corporation, who initially provided and furnished a medieval guild hall, St Anthony's Hall, on Peasholme Green, for use as the school building. The blue coats worn by the boys were based on the uniform of Christ's Hospital School in Greyfriars, London. A Grey Coat School for twenty poor girls was founded at the same time in Marygate. By 1836, the boys' school housed sixty-four pupils, and there were forty-three girls at the Grey Coat School. Supporters who donated more than a guinea a year were allowed to put forward the name of one boy and one girl to enter each school.

The Grey Coat School was created in 1705 at "The Garth" in Marygate. It moved to 33, Monkgate. The girls were trained in sewing and knitting and prepared for a career as a servant. With Cappe, After this success, Gray was approached to become involved with the "Grey Coat School" which had lost its way. Cappe and Gray went on to found the York Female Friendly Society which was open to ex-students of the Grey Coat School and to their "School for Spinning Worsted". The society's object was to provide basic health insurance for its female members. Until 1900 the girls would be taught spinning and their work was sold to supplement the home's income.