http://www.stalbanseducation.org.uk/Newsletter/12.pdf

Schools Newsletter: Summer 2003 Page 5

MEMORIES OF MUSLEY

Musley Infant School in Ware will, sadly, close its doors for the last time at the end of this term after a long and interesting history.

There has been a school on the site since 1857, the original school having been founded by Edward Chuck, a Ware Maltster, and it was for a time named the Edward Chuck Memorial School. Later it became the Ware Grammar School for boys and then the Central School, having up to 160 boys. In September 1832, after several more changes, the building became Musley Infant School and 78 children were enrolled.

The erection of an air-raid shelter on the site during World War II must have caused a great deal of disruption - and excitement for the children, who had to have air-raid drills in addition to fire drills!

 In 1965, so the log book tells, after a rainy night, the ceiling and floor of the staffroom were saturated with water. Builders discovered that all the lead had been stripped from the roof. As late as the 1980s frozen water pipes were a feature of cold winter mornings. Things have improved a great deal recently, although for many years a question mark has hung over the long-term future of the school, and the time for Musley to close has now been judged to be right.

 Over many years the good relationship between staff and parents has had a  positive effect on the children’s education. We have always had regular daily support from a group of parents to help children in reading and many parents have continued to come into school long after their children have left.

 Many people over several generations have happy memories of their time at Musley and we would welcome anyone who remembers Musley to join us on our Commemorative afternoon from 3 pm on 12 July. The closure of Musley will mark the end of an era for many people, in Ware and beyond, who attended the school at any time and to many who are part of the local community.

 Pam Staras - Headteacher

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