Knockfierna (Hill of Fairies or Truth) was originally built as a beautiful grand Victorian Mansion by John Daverin, from Ireland, who was a successful Wool Merchant, in 1899. John and his wife, Clothilda, brought up their 7 children in the grand style befitting this era.
John Daverin died in 1922, and Knockfierna was sold to James Harroway who later sold it to Raymond Hutchinson, from London.
St George's Preparatory School was founded in 1936 by Raymond Hutchinson to provide a private school education for boys aged 7-14 and prepare them for Public Schools in South Africa and overseas.
The first enrolment numbered about 50 boys with approximately 25% being boarders. Our school became co-ed in 1987.
The House
The house has undergone few changes over the years and many of the original features are still present.
Our children enjoy their lunches in Daverin's original billiard room where the blocks of marble that used to support the weight of the large mahogany billiard table, still exist.
The “Stage” was built in 1905 and called the Morning room.
Leaving the dining room you walk down the passage towards the headmaster’s study and looking up you will see a trap-door where a tray was pulled up and down with the children’s meals prepared in the kitchen. They never ate with their parents.
Our secretary has the pleasure of working from Daverin's study where he devoted a lot of time to reading and studying the history of Ireland.
The headmaster, Mr J. Liss, has his office in the old dining room with its wood paneled and decorative moldings as well as a beautiful tiled fireplace.
The present drawing room was Clotilda’s domain. It was richly furnished and a leopard skin rug was placed in front of the fireplace. With its beautiful Corinthian columns, it lent itself to plays, put on by the children every year on their father’s birthday.
Upstairs were three bedrooms including Clotilda’s boudoir, John’s dressing room, a guest room, which opened up on to a balcony and an attic room under the central gable.
The bathroom upstairs had a ‘needle’ bath, brass taps, wall tiles, wash basin and loo with a forget-me-not pattern in the bowl – all imported from England – first bathroom of its kind in Port Elizabeth.
The tiles on the stoep and entrance hall were shipped from Bath in England while the large elaborate mirror was bought in Vienna to grace the teak staircase. On special occasions ferns and flowers were placed behind a little wooden rail underneath the mirror.
The Grounds
The Garden was laid out in the form of a heart – John declaring his undying love for his young wife.
The large forage loft was built later and is today used as the carpentry room.
The stables were situated just below the forage loft and today these have been converted into the Grade 1 classroom. The rings on which to tether the horses are still to be seen on the wall.
Knockfierna (“Hill of Fairies or Truth”) this beautiful grand Victorian Mansion, celebrated its 100 years in 1999 with a Victorian Tea Party. Rev. Scott-Parkin,son of Kitty Scott-Parkin (nee Daverin), was the guest speaker and our St. George’s Band entertained guests, who enjoyed a scrumptious tea of scones, petit-fours and cucumber sandwiches on the lawns
Knockfierna (Hill of Fairies or Truth) was originally built as a beautiful grand Victorian Mansion by John Daverin, from Ireland, who was a successful Wool Merchant, in 1899. John and his wife, Clothilda, brought up their 7 children in the grand style befitting this era.
John Daverin died in 1922, and Knockfierna was sold to James Harroway who later sold it to Raymond Hutchinson, from London.
St George's Preparatory School was founded in 1936 by Raymond Hutchinson to provide a private school education for boys aged 7-14 and prepare them for Public Schools in South Africa and overseas.
The first enrolment numbered about 50 boys with approximately 25% being boarders. Our school became co-ed in 1987.
The House
The house has undergone few changes over the years and many of the original features are still present.
Our children enjoy their lunches in Daverin's original billiard room where the blocks of marble that used to support the weight of the large mahogany billiard table, still exist.
The “Stage” was built in 1905 and called the Morning room.
Leaving the dining room you walk down the passage towards the headmaster’s study and looking up you will see a trap-door where a tray was pulled up and down with the children’s meals prepared in the kitchen. They never ate with their parents.
Our secretary has the pleasure of working from Daverin's study where he devoted a lot of time to reading and studying the history of Ireland.
The headmaster, Mr J. Liss, has his office in the old dining room with its wood paneled and decorative moldings as well as a beautiful tiled fireplace.
The present drawing room was Clotilda’s domain. It was richly furnished and a leopard skin rug was placed in front of the fireplace. With its beautiful Corinthian columns, it lent itself to plays, put on by the children every year on their father’s birthday.
Upstairs were three bedrooms including Clotilda’s boudoir, John’s dressing room, a guest room, which opened up on to a balcony and an attic room under the central gable.
The bathroom upstairs had a ‘needle’ bath, brass taps, wall tiles, wash basin and loo with a forget-me-not pattern in the bowl – all imported from England – first bathroom of its kind in Port Elizabeth.
The tiles on the stoep and entrance hall were shipped from Bath in England while the large elaborate mirror was bought in Vienna to grace the teak staircase. On special occasions ferns and flowers were placed behind a little wooden rail underneath the mirror.
The Grounds
The Garden was laid out in the form of a heart – John declaring his undying love for his young wife.
The large forage loft was built later and is today used as the carpentry room.
The stables were situated just below the forage loft and today these have been converted into the Grade 1 classroom. The rings on which to tether the horses are still to be seen on the wall.
Knockfierna (“Hill of Fairies or Truth”) this beautiful grand Victorian Mansion, celebrated its 100 years in 1999 with a Victorian Tea Party. Rev. Scott-Parkin,son of Kitty Scott-Parkin (nee Daverin), was the guest speaker and our St. George’s Band entertained guests, who enjoyed a scrumptious tea of scones, petit-fours and cucumber sandwiches on the lawns.
