William Pirie

1802 – 1868

Born and educated in Scotland, William Pirie was Headmaster of Horsham Grammar School (Collyer’s) from the age of 20 until his death at 66. Collyer’s was founded in 1532 and had been located on Denne Road since 1541. In 1840, Pirie oversaw the building of a new school on the same site, but it would relocate to its current location on Hurst Road just over 50 years later.

William Pirie was well-known for his mode of transport around the town, a donkey and cart, and a statue by sculptor Lorna McKean depicting this can be found in Piries Place. This area of Horsham is named after a terrace of cottages, now demolished, which William built to fund his retirement.