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i went to that school in the late fifties.the school was on the corner.We went to the Y M C A by grove park for our pt lessons also there were two portacabins near to the school where we cookery lessons and woodwork.

The school was built as the National School c1845 later known as St. Johns School it closed in 1964. There is a picture of it in the 1880s in Weston-super-Mare A Pictorial History by Sharon Poole and another in 1960s in Weston-super-Mare 1950s-1970s by Sharon Poole.

This is a mystery to me as I had heard it mentioned by a family member but as they have all passed on, Murielle the last in 1989 I am unable to ask. I have checked on my father's mother , my paternal grandmother but she was from Long Newton Wiltshire. She was Jemima Wood.

Hi Pat, 

Thank you for looking into this. 

My only interest is where it was due to the HEWLETT family living there. My interest was getting the better of me. 

Thank you for your help as ever.

Many thanks,

Kirsty

This has proved to be quite a problem which hasn't been conclusively answered yet. I had a word with Brian Austin who had no other reference to St Stephen's Square other than the 1861 census.  Looking at the residents said to be living there in 1861 - I checked to see if any were still in the area in 1871 and found the HEWLETT family living in Taner's Buildings in 1871. We think that these were between Alma Street and Alfred Street - probably towards the Meadow Street end but have no proof that they were previously called St Stephen's Square.

Not much help here Kirsty.  Do you have an interest in anyone living in St Stephen's Square in 1861?

From your description I would guess you are talking about St Johns Church School which was on the corner of Lower Church Road and West Street. It was demolished to make way for the new technical college.

                                                   Dave Tyler