The Green Court is a large rectangular grass lawn which lies between the Cathedral’s ‘Dark Entry’ and many parts of the school.  Tradition requires that boys always walk round the Green Court in a clockwise direction - except, of course, School Monitors, who can walk round either way and walk on the grass too!

Another tradition requires first year boys to have all three jacket buttons fastened at all times, second year boys may have, and so always do, have one button undone and 3rd year boys two buttons undone. Only  School monitors can have all three buttons open.

 

Breaking traditions is a moderately serious offence and likely to get you into trouble.

 

I, Wilson, have been in the Cathedral doing a few odd jobs for the chaplain.  It’s now six o’clock on a wet winter evening and I am trying to get back to  Walpole House, on the other side of the Green Court.  No one is about and it’s already quite dark so I take a chance and run anti-clockwise round the lawn.

 

 

OK I’m Wilson,  and I am in School now, and a member of Walpole House, so I had better learn a few of the rules and traditions that I will have to observe and obey.

 

The various houses, class rooms, the dining room and other important places for my daily life are scattered all round the Cathedral Precincts and I have had to learn my way about.  Nobody provided a guided tour.