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In 1927 Birley House Open Air School relocated to much larger premises at Brent Knoll, a Victorian mansion in Mayow Road, opposite Mayow Park.

Brent Knoll Open Air School  occupied the grounds behind the house, which had previously been tennis courts, while the large public park served as a useful extension.

The School was built on the standard pavilion model, with 3 classrooms and a rest/dining pavilion.

As with other open air schools, lessons were enjoyable in the summer, but winters were more difficult.  The pupils were issued with blankets and gloves as the pavilions were unheated and the walls above dado level were open to the elements.

The School closed during WW2 and presumably re-opened in 1945.

It continued in operation until about 1956.

Present status (February 2013)

Following closure of the School, its facilities and the original mansion were demolished.  Brent Knoll School, a special school, was built in their place and opened in 1968.

In their turn,  these buildings are intended soon to be replaced by a new build on a different site nearby.

Brent Knoll is a hill, and a nearby village, in Somerset.