THE SQUARE
The Square lies at the south corner of the familiar triangular road network around
Knowle that has existed for centuries. Standing guardian over the scene are the
early 15th century Church and Guild House, which are still at the heart of the village
after 600 years. When the church was consecrated in 1403 it is believed to have
been on the edge of the village, as the early settlement was in Kenilworth Road.
The Guild House was the headquarters of the Guild of St. Anne. Before the Guild
was dissolved in 1547 there were a number of priests attached to it and to the College
of Knowle. (Knowle was the last church in Warwickshire to become collegiate). One
theory is that the Square - not a square in the normal sense - was left as an open
space for people to congregate and listen to sermons.
Many of the buildings in the Square are timber-framed. The Guild House originally
included both St. Anne’s Cottage next to it and the office building beyond, which
used to be called Monastery House. The Red Lion dates from the 17th century or earlier.
Less obvious are the pharmacy and Lyons’ butcher’s shop. The beautiful timbered
White Swan, which belonged to the College and stood where the NatWest Bank is today,
was demolished in 1939 - Knowle’s greatest loss.
