Visit to Knockfierna

I took up an invitation to visit the library at St George's Prep School this morning. Rose Roth, my ex-NMMU library colleague invited me to call during first break and it was truly a trip down memory lane.

       Marble fireplace in the library where Rose works

    This stately home, built in 1900, was turned into a school in 1935 and Emile spent his grade 5 year at the school before he went to Grey Junior.
    Knockfierna means "house of the fairies" and I first visited the building in its 90th year when we went to enrol Emile.
    When I researched the history of Villa Armgard  (our Verandah as we refer to our house these days), I found a link between the two buildings.  Mr Waldeck, a master builder and first owner of our house, was involved in the construction of some of the buildings that make up the stately property. In old PE Street Directories, Mr Waldeck is said to have built the 'stables at Knockfierna". Mrs Waldeck's first name was Armgard and the Verandah was named after her.


             Junior quad                                          

  The stables Mr Waldeck built serve as junior classroom