William Jones was born in Newland, Gloucestershire in the sixteenth century. He grew up in Monmouth and became fond of the town. A haberdasher by trade, he eventually became a very successful member of The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers. In 1613, towards the end of his life, he bequeathed £6,000 to be spent locally for charitable purposes, appointing the Company as Trustee. He provided another £3,000 in his will, and this time included a school in his list of objectives. The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, as Trustees, bought a site and organised the building work, for what became Monmouth School for Boys, originally a grammar school which they sent bricklayers down from London who were paid per thousand bricks laid.

The girls’ school opened in temporary premises at Hardwick House in Monmouth in 1892, while the Company negotiated for a permanent site and put up buildings, to which the girls moved in 1897.

The endowment from the William Jones Foundation enables the Schools to continue to improve their facilities, and offer an excellent education whilst ensuring very competitive fees.