The lower storey of it, now the kitchen, has a fine oak ceiling divided into nine square compartments by oak beams, at the intersections there are four carved bosses bearing (1) a name device, or rebus of Prior Overton a tun or cask, encircled by the letter =O=, formed by a vine branch with leaves and grapes, (2) a capital =T= ornamented with leaves, (3) an =S= similarly ornamented, (4) a sheep encircled like No. 1. The letters =T= and =S= are supposed to be the initials of former priors. “The lofty staircase of majestic oak, dim-lighted by an ancient window, filled with narrow panes of deep-discoloured glass,” is now brightened with a stained glass window, which was presented and placed in the School Library by Dr. Sleath on his retirement from the headmastership in 1830. It contains armorial bearings of the Founder, and three Hereditary Governors of Repton School, the Earls of Huntingdon, and Chesterfield, and Sir John Gerard. The window was removed to the Hall by Dr. Peile, with Dr. Sleath’s knowledge. Dr. Prior, Headmaster from 1767-79, raised the number of boys to over two hundred, and it is generally thought that he was the first to occupy the Hall. The School Register was so badly kept, or not kept at all, it is difficult to say how many there were with any certainty. When Dr. Pears was appointed in 1854 there were only forty-eight boys in the School, in three years the number was one hundred and eight, and soon it became necessary to build more houses, the difficulty was to obtain sites. The Tercentenary of Repton School, 1857, proved to be a fresh starting point in its history. A site for the School Chapel was applied for within the Arch, but in vain, at last the piece of land on which it stands, was obtained with a further piece at the back of it, on this Dr. Pears built a house for Mr. Johnson, who opened it in the year 1860. [Illustration: Plate 12. Pears Memorial Hall Window. (Page 83.)] The Rev. E. Latham opened his house about the same time. It had formerly been a malt house and cottages. Dr. Pears bought the “Old Mitre Inn” and converted it into a house for the Rev. Joseph Gould in 1865. In 1869 a house, built by Mr. Estridge, was opened. In 1871, the Rev. G. P. Clarke (now Clucas) moved from the south end of the Priory, and opened the house in which he now lives, in 1883 he resigned his mastership, and his boys were transferred to other houses. In 1880, another Inn (“New Mitre”) was converted into a house, and occupied by the Rev. A. F. E. Forman. In 1885, Mr. Gurney built his house.