While studying the 1922 O.S. Map for Wickford, I noticed a sign for a school on what is now Halls Corner. We have photos of the corner in the late 1800s, when a forge and saddlery were situated there, and in the 1930s Hall had built his iconic shops on the corner. I had never been told of a school. Does this jog your memory of stories you may have heard? Can you name the school or who ran it ?
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I believe the building on the map to be St George’s School. See “St George’s School-Wickford” (Bob Plimmer 17/10/2012), on this website. The photograph on his posting shows, right of centre, the water tank at Wickford Station, confirming the school’s position. The old signal box is on the right, touching the edge.
The headmaster and founder of the school was Rowland F Smith. He set-up the school sometime after he returned to England having been wounded at Cambrai during the First World War. He was also a Wickford scout master. His parents lived in Rayleigh. It was at Rowland’s school in 1928 that a decision was made to form a British Legion branch at Wickford with Rowland provisionally appointed chairman.
Rowland was appointed organist at Runwell Church in 1926 and left St George’s school in 1928 to continue his studies for joining the ministry. He was ordained in 1930. He was curate at St John the Baptist, Southend and later curate at St Matthews, Worthing in Sussex, before being appointed rector of St Mary Magdalen, St Leonards in the same county. He was also the Bishop’s Chaplain for youth in Sussex. Rowland died in his room at the Hotel Victoria, Interlaken, while holidaying in Switzerland (1949).
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