Holystreet Manor, Chagford

Year: 1955

Holystreet Manor, Chagford

I am wondering if anyone remembers the school in Chagford at Holystreet Manor. I went to this school in the mid 1950s and at the time it was called St Brides, later to be re-named Holystreet Manor School with a change of Principal. I believe it closed down shortly after.
I lived in Moretonhampstead at the time (my parents were managers of the White Hart Hotel) and used to catch a bus from Moreton to Chagford then walk the couple of miles to the school. I did used to get side-tracked by Mr French of the local riding school, helping him to catch up his ponies. My school uniform used to get covered in pony hairs so had to have a quick brush down before going into school. In the afternoon I walked back up to Chagford again but there was a long wait for a bus so my parents arranged for me to sit in Mrs Rose's sweet shop in the square until the bus arrived.
Holystreet Manor School was for boarding and day pupils, I still have a school photo and the total in the whole school was only 40 pupils (about 6 teachers)! It was a wonderful experience for me as the school had acres of grounds for outdoor activities from nature studies to swimming in the very cold river. Several pupils used to ride their ponies to school, leave them in the stables for the day and ride home again in the evening.
The interior of the house was superb and made Christmastime very special. Every year I paraded down the wonderful wide staircase in the same tatty old angel outfit in front of the adoring parents!
Do these memories ring a bell with anyone else?  
Elizabeth Moon (nee Sturdy)