Figure 1.--Many prep schools insisted on short trouser uniforms. This began to change in the 1970s and by the 1980s most prep schools had long trouser uniforms, especially for the older boys. The pants worn at this school were all corduroy.

English boys have worn a variety of different trousers to school. These trouser styles have changed significantly over time. Boys in the early 19th century wore long trousers. Many boys wore knickers in the late 19th century. We note kneepants less commonly. Short trousers began to appear after the turn of the 20th century. They were very common in the first half of the 20th century. Senior boys wore long grey or black trousers. Most elementary boys and some secondary schoolboys (at least in the first two years) wore short grey trousers. Short trousers for school wear were very common inter the inter-war era and continued into the 1950s. Gradually in the 1960s more boys began wearing long trousers, although some primary schools and most preparatoty schools required short trousers into the 1970s. Long trousers became increasingly common in the 1980s. One English reader reports in 2002, "Nowadays hardly any boys wear grey shorts for school in the U.K., even during the summer. Even the little ones 5-6 years old wear long trousers."

The 16th Century

Many of the The grammar schools established in Tudor Enhlanf had uniforms. We are not sure they all did are all the boys at the schools wore the unfiorm. There are written accounts. And the hospitalnschools continued the bluecoat unidorm ito the modern afe. This as a tunic worm wokth knee breeches and yellow stockings. A more detailed description was, "belted, long blue coats, knee-breeches, yellow socks, and bands at the neck. The uniform has been in place since 1552.[6] The nickname "Blue-coat School" comes from the blue coats worn by the students � however, the nickname used within the school community itself is "Housey" and the long coat is called a 'housey coat'."

The 19th Century

These trouser styles have changed significantly over time. Boys in the early 19th century wore long trousers. The popular style wss skeleton suits. Later in the century we see boys wearing tunic suits ti school, with long trousers. England at the time did not yet have a state school system. Lrgely cvhurch groups begn founding primary schools. There were no uniforms at the time for these charity band cgurch schools. Private schools did have uniforms. The primary private school at the time was the public school, meaning that anyone could attend that could pay the fees, nit gthat they wre state funded. Eton College was he most famous public schoola nd was very influential in establishing styles, a large white collar, short jacket, and long trousers. This was adopted as a uniform at Eton and several other public (private boarding) schools. Other public schools had uniforms, all wuth long trousers. These public schools coulld be rough places so by mid -century we begin to see preparatory schools for the younger boys. These prep schools at first did not have uniforms, although thuy might have dress standards. More groups and municipalities began founding schools as the century progressed. School wear trends are difficult to follow in detail until photography developed, but in the first half of the century boys almost entirely wore long pants as schoolwear. We begin to see shortened-length pants at mid-century, but mostly for yonger boys. Photography was invented in France (1839), but thec eaaly formats like Dags anbd Ambrios are mist less common than in America (1840s-50s). This we do not have a lot of images revealing schoolwear. This changed as the CDV bevame appear and they were dnme in large numbers (1860s). At virst we mostly see individual portraits, but by the 1879s we begin to see increasing numbers of school portraits as the tradition of school photography began to develop. We continue to see boys mostly wearing long pants. This gradully chngesd nnd we begin to see shottenbed-lernth pants ar school (1870s). This was not universals abnd we continue to see evn yhounger boys wearinh blomg pants. A good example is an unidentified Guildford school. Many boys wore knickers in the late-19th century. We see knickers as part of the school uniform at quite a numbr of pjublic schools. Boys in state day schools wore knickers much less commonly. We note knee pants less commonly.

The 20th Century

Short trousers began to appear after the turn of the 20th century. They were esentially knee pants until after World War I when the modern short pants appeared, or short tousers as the British would say. They were very common in the first half of the 20th century. Most boys at state primary school wore short trousers, although there were not commonly uniforms, except at private preparatory schools. Rather at state schools were are more talking about schoolwear than uniforms. Short trousers for school wear were very common during the inter-war era and continued into the 1950s. gey shorts were common, but not universal, We see them done in siffeent stryles and material. Lengths varoed. The knickers wore in the late-19th century were rarely seen at schools diring the 20th century. Teenagers usually from families in comfortable circumstances might wear knicker throough the inter-War era, but these were not school uniforms. Most children until after World War II did not go on to secondary schools. Secondary schools did have uniforms, but I do not have much information on secondary schools in the pre-World War II era. There were major educational reforms after the War. And primary schools began introducing uniforms which commonly included short trousers--usually grey shorts. Uniforms were mist worn at private schools until after World war II. Amd many of the new school uniforms at state schools included short pants uniforms. Often the uniform required shorts for the younger boys. With the 1960s, shorts trousers began to become less common, especially at secondary schools, although some primary schools and most preparatoty schools required short trousers into the 1970s. This trend continued at the primary schools by the 1980s. Shorts also became less common at private prepartory schools. Senior boys commonly wore long grey or black trousers. Long trousers became increasingly common in the 1980s. A number of primary schools have made short trousers seasonal wear.

21st Century

One English reader reports in 2002, "Nowadays hardly any boys wear grey shorts for school in the U.K., even during the summer. Even the little ones 5-6 years old wear long trousers." A British readee writes, "Contrary to what I have read on HBC many state primary schools (especially in "Middle England" - meaning outside of the big cities) still insist on short trousers for boys at least during the Summer months."

Created: 1:56 PM 7/17/2005
Last updated: 10:48 AM 5/15/2022