Musley School, Ware

Ware

S Williams

1880 OS map, Herts Archives
c1910, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
1910 coronation picnic at Presdales, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
Inside a classroom, 1912, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
c1908, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
1930s, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
Coronation tea, 1953, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
Celebrating the royal wedding in 1981, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
A mobile classroom, 1988, Herts Archives Off acc 1378
Playground in the 1980s, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
The school's carnival float Kingsway, 1982, Herts Archives Off acc 1378
New tower being added in 1989, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
Plans c1930s, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
School rules, 1985, Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
Herts Archives Off Acc 1378
Derelict in 2014, S Williams
S Williams

Edward Chuck, a maltster who died in 1852, left part of his estate to pay for a new school in Ware.  The Chuck Memorial School, as it was then known opened on 6th September 1857 to cater for children ‘of the industrial classes’. 

Various changes followed and in 1890, it merged with the Wareside Grammar School.  The Grammar School closed in 1905 and the building was empty for nearly two years, in which time lead was stripped from the roof.  In 1907 it reopened with Miss Benson as Headmistress and was to be the junior section of St Mary’s School (which was by the church).  In 1912 Miss McCabe took over and if a child was late, he or she had to stand outside and when let in, felt Miss McCabe’s cane across the hand.  School hours were 9am until 12, then 2-3.30pm. One child who was never late was Mrs Ellen Utteridge, who was crowned Miss Punctuality.

During the First World War, soldiers sometimes slept in the school overnight and the children were unable to get in the next morning.  In 1918, the school’s role changed again; it became Musley Central School and catered for children aged 10-14 and the headmaster was Mr Evans.  In 1932, the Central School was moved to the extended Christ Church school in New Road and Musley went back to teaching younger children.  That year, 80 children aged 5 to 7 were admitted by Miss Want, the new Headmistress who was remembered by the children as being gentle and understanding, kind but firm. One day, she asked which children had not had breakfast and several hands went up.  She paid for them to have fresh bread rolls and butter from Pavey’s bakery down the road.

In 1939, shelters were dug in the playing fields and there were a number of London evacuees at the school.  This bought about school dinners which were cooked and bought from Hertingfordbury, which often arrived late and cold.  Miss Want retired in 1943 and Miss Sampford became Headmistress.  she used to bring her dog, a golden spaniel to school.  The child who had done the best work had the honour of sitting in a basket with the dog to hear a story at the end of the day. There was a large round black stove in one room which used to keep the children’s milk warm; coats were dried by it and on cold days the children clustered round it.

At the end of the War there was a party for the children; there was lots of food as parents had dipped in to their rations to make it special.  In 1964, Miss Sampford retired and Miss Hunter, who had taught at the school since 1932, became Headmistress.  From 1970 to 1975 Mrs Prince was in charge and she was replaced by Mrs Woodward. In 1982, the school celebrated 125 years of opening and 50 of being Musley Infants School. In 1984 it got its first computer. In 1987, the tower was found to be unsafe and had to be replaced.  In 1989, Mrs Woodward retired and was replaced by Mrs Staras.

The school closed in 2003 after a failed campaign by local residents to try and keep it open. Due to mismanagement by the various bodies involved, the building fell into a state of disrepair and remained derelict for over 10 years. New houses have been built on the play ground but the building was saved and is now a nursery.

This page was added on 08/11/2016.

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  • The best years of my life were at Musley School. I was under Mrs Woodward and Mrs Lawrence.
    I learnt so much and made life-long friends whom I’m still in contact with today.
    Especially I remember the Silver Jubilee and a fancy dress parade.

    By Sharon Britton was Lewthwaite (23/05/2021)
  • The child who was never late, I think was actually Miss Gladys Ellen Thurgood who later married and became Uttridge, my Nan. This entry made me laugh so thankyou x

    By Jacquie Mansfield (03/02/2021)
  • In the 1981 Royal Wedding celebration photo, I can see my big brother Peter Best and myself (I’m the littlest girl) both, in red baseball caps. If I recall correctly the teacher in the photo is Mrs Boutel.

    By Christine (12/10/2019)
  • The 1930’s photo of a class of students.
    Musley Infant School, Ware. 1932 Frederick
    William Waller Aged 6yrs Back Row Second from left. Different ages, photo only of those who’s parents promised to purchase the photo @ 3d a print. This photo is also in the book ‘Ware Past in Pictures’. Also FB Photos of Hertford and Ware. all children have been named.

    By Linda Cutforth (07/10/2019)
  • My mother (nee Una Newdick) was a pupil at Central School from 1918 to 1922. Miss Want the later headmistress lived next door to our family in Musley Lane after her retirement .

    By John Bassill (28/07/2019)