The Christmas Barring-Oout

An article from the November 1828 issue of The Gentleman's Magazine, in which is discussed the ancient custom at English boys' schools of "barring out" the master of the school and illustrated by an anonymously provided first-person account of such an incident. The students bar the school doors and demand concessions. In some counties of England this custom was expected and even accounted for in school regulations while in other areas the practice was forbidden and brought harsh consequences for perpetrators.