Knightwick School stood at the bottom of Ankerdine Hill and was opened in 1888 and closed in 1958. I had been sent to Broadwas School in 1955 and when Knightwick School closed all the pupils from Knightwick School came to Broadwas School, so I got to meet and be friends with many more children. Louis, Clive and their sister Grace Nicholas lived at the top of Ankerdine Hill and their father was a cobbler. Clive came to the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Bromyard with me when we left Broadwas School. In those days you had to take the 11+, an examination taken by some school pupils in their last year of primary school to get into a grammar school of their choice. Grace's husband to be David Lane from Doddenham went too and also my cousin Julie Ganderton from Stoney-Ley, Broadwas and Robin Chater from the Royal Oak at Broadwas and another friend of mine Graham Palmer from Wichenford. We all used to travel on the Primrose Motors Bus, with Mr. George the driver, always smoking his pipe full of Erinmore Tobacco, I used to love the aroma that wafted up through the bus. Mr. George was very strict, he would allow some tom foolery but if we ever crossed the line, he would turf us of the bus and make us walk home!! that would never happen today. It certainly made us think twice to how far we would try his patience. Having said that he was a great guy and we had lots of fun. Very often we would be trying to catch up with our home work on the journey which led me from Knightwick up Lulsley towards Alfrick turning up by Alfrick Pound and crossroads and down through Suckley past the Wobbly Wheel, then Mousehole and the Bruff Factory, picking up other children on the way, my friend Sam Griffiths would get on outside the Chapels Farm where he lived and we would often play chess on the way. Then up to Acton Crossroads and down the road past the Herefordshire House and on to Bromyard Downs and lastly to Bromyard and our final destination at the Grammar School.

Future of Knightwick School - Bromyard News - 28th August, 1958.

Mrs. Philips has obtaimed the post of Headmistress of a larger school at Great Rollright in Oxforshire, and leaves at the end of August.
The local education authority have informed the managers that they consider this will be a convenient time to close Knightwick School, as soon as extensions at Broadwas are complete, probably next Easter, Mrs. Goring will be acting headmistress until then. When the school is closed, the property reverts to a descendant of the founder, in accordance with the deed of foundation. The school building might be very useful to the parishes as a Village Hall. Mr. Stubbs, the County Rural Community Organiser, and the architect have inspected it and consider that it could be converted fairly easily. The person to whom the property reverts is prepared to consider offers for the property.
There will be a meeting at the school on Friday at 8 p.m. to consider whether the Village Hall Fund should be used for this purpose and what offer should be made.

 

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