text: Britain's public schools are now the very image of tradition but behind their establishment image lies a history of rebellion and revolution. The hidden story of some of the country’s most prestigious and best-known public schools -including Eton – is one of barricades and mutinies so fierce they nearly proved the institutions’ undoing. A new book by former education journalist David Turner, The Old Boys, lays bare the little-known history. Scroll down for video . Eton's famous wall game: The new book was inspired by David Cameron's comparison to Flashman in Tom Brown's School Days . Winchester College experienced six full-scale rebellion in the 18th and 19th Centuries - one over beer rations . Years of research in the schools’ archives has shed light on tales of master’s held at sword-point, mass walkouts and battles so intense they required the intervention of a militia,  the Daily Telegraph reported. There are even records of one gunpowder plot. Mr Turner was inspired to write the book after hearing David Cameron, a former Eton College student, compared to the fictional bully Flashman from Tom Brown’s School Days. A student at Winchester practices fencing: Students used swords, axes and gunpowder in their rebellions . Eddie Redmayne (left) and Benedict Cumberbatch (right) both attended public school, which Mr Turner says is now entering its golden age . Turner writes that he wanted to discover whether or not public schools had plumbed the depths described in the Thomas Hughes novels. After making his discoveries he said if they have not improved, Britain is in serious trouble. From the 18th Century onwards there were a series of full-scale rebellions at the country’s public schools the new book reveals. The frequent violence and the outmoded classics-based education at the schools nearly undid them. Turner explains it was predominantly the rise of the pushy parent at the end of 19th Century which brought the institutions to heel. Now, he says, they do more good than harm in the modern era. George Orwell (left) and Ropert Walpole (right), the first British Prime Minister, are often cited as famous examples of the success of the public school system. Walpole attended Eton during the time of unrest . Eton College as it is now: Mr Turner says in the modern era the schools do more good than harm . In fact Turner’s book places the golden age of the Public School not in the distant past, as might be expected, but in the present day, the Financial Times reports. The Old Boys, Mr Turner says, shows the private school system’s ability to adapt and evolve throughout the ages with public school educated celebrities now in the ascendance. Over a third of the UK’s gold medal winners attended fee-paying schools and Eddie Remayne and Benedict Cumberbatch of Eton and Harrow went head to head this year at the Oscars. The current Prime Minister and future King: Both David Cameron and Prince William went to Eton College . A number of modern days figures are name checked in the book including Mumford and Sons from King’s College with David Cameron providing inspiration for the text. However some individuals' lesser known for their private school background such as UKIP party leader Nigel Farage, who attended Dulwhich College, also pop up. The old stalwarts of public school achievement also feature – the country’s first Prime Minister Robert Walpole and the seven public schoolboys in his cabinet as well as Greorge Orwell, who also attended Eton. The Old Boys is now available to buy. Malborough College's 1851 rebellion coincided with Guy Fawkes Night and began with an explosion . At Winchester in 1710, scholars at mutinied over their beer rations. Just before the turn of the century, two decades earlier, students at Manchester Grammar School were supplied by local people with firearms and and food as they embarked upon a violent two-week standoff with their teachers. The disagreement began over the length of the Christmas holidays. In 1797 pupils at Rugby School took staff prisoner at sword-point and a local militia had to be raised to end the insurrection. In 1818 during the ‘great rebellion’ at Winchester the school’s overall head was held hostage by boys armed with axes. In 1851 a mutiny was timed at Malborough College to coincide with Guy Fawkes Night. It began with an explosion from a barrel of gunpowder. Over the period Eton and Winchester both suffered six rebellions each with five at Rugby School.
target: Underneath the polished manners lies a history of violence and rebellion .
  New book 'The Old Boys' by education expert offers fresh look at schools .
  At Winchester in 1818 a headmaster held hostage by axe-wielding boys .
  David Cameron is an old Etonian, as too is Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne .