Built in the discouraging reign of Queen Mary, this is one of a group of stone-roofed buildings that surround the large and airy village green of Kirby Hill. The Trust that owns the school was founded by Dr Dakyn on 11 May 1556. After Mass he explained to a numerous congregation how the Wardens of the Trust were to be chosen. On the feast of the Decollation of St John the names of six respectable parishioners were to be written on slips of paper and enclosed in balls of wax.

These were to be put into a jar of water. Two names were then to be drawn and the jar of water with the remaining names put away in a cupboard, which he also provided. If a vacancy occurred during the year, a further ball of wax was to be drawn from the jar and opened. This is still done, and the jar is still kept in his cupboard, a very handsome one.

In 1957, after a life of 401 years, his school was closed, and in 1973 the Trustees gave us a long lease of it. We repaired the ground-floor schoolroom for use as a village hall, and the Tudor lodging of the master, upstairs, we turned into a flat. It has one particularly fine bedroom, looking into the churchyard, with views over the surrounding countryside, the village living up to its name. There is a large library of old school books (in the building when we arrived) and a general atmosphere of ancient peace, abetted by the church clock with its tranquillizing strike.

View our history sheet for this Landmark

Sleeps: 4