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Great Britain - Bellerbys School, Wadhurst - July 2015 | Oblivion State Urban Exploration

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Great Britain Bellerbys School, Wadhurst - July 2015

Otchie

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Went with Lara, SK, Miss.Anthrope.

History:

Wadhurst's first school was built at Pell Hill around 1840 on land belonging to Mr. G.C. Courthope but in 1856 the National School was rebuilt in Lower High Street, now used as a Youth Centre Mr. Charles Bocking was its master but he retired in 1890 when Mr. F.W. Larcombe was appointed headmaster. Originally the school had been divided into Boys, Girls and Infants but in 1910 was reorganised into two departments Junior Mixed and Infants.

During the 1930's events were organised to help raise money to build a new Church of England School in Sparrows Green. Building was started just before the Second World War and was not entirely completed until after it ended. In 1941 it was damaged by one of the bombs that fell in Sparrows Green. Situated next to the then Fire Station some of the rooms were used to house weary fire fighters from London who were brought down for a brief respite.

There were other schools in Wadhurst. In 1864 a National School was built in Cousley Wood. This school was, until 1970, also used for Church Services. Miss Hannah Page was its first headmistress. It had only four headmistresses during its existence. Miss Marjorie Larcombe, daughter of the Wadhurst C of E School headmaster, was its last. When Cousley Wood School closed in 1949 she joined her sister Gladys on the staff of Wadhurst School. Miss Frances Funge completed no less than sixty one years at Cousley Wood School. At the age of four years she started as a scholar and then went on as an assistant teacher until her retirement. According to old log books supplies were very scarce in the early days.

Wadhurst College, a boarding school for girls, at South Park in Mayfield Lane was opened c 1930 by Miss Mulliner. Its numbers grew and other large houses were acquired to house the girls, namely Durgates Lodge, Aston House, and Wigram. In the 1980's the Legat Ballet School joined the establishment and in the early 1990's Wadhurst College was amalgamated with Micklefield School from Seaford and became known as Micklefield Wadhurst. In 1997 it had a further change and is at present known as Bellerbys. Pupils from the college have in the past taken part in the life of Wadhurst. They have helped with bell ringing and senior pupils ran a Sunday School for twenty years. It was a common sight to see the girls walking in a crocodile to church every Sunday morning.

During the Second World War, when the Girl Guides were not able to camp under canvas, Miss Gowdie the headmistress kindly allowed the First and Second Wadhurst Companies to hold their summer camp at Aston House, now known as Beech Hill. The girls slept in the house and used the grounds and the swimming pool by day. Many local children had cause to be grateful as this is where many of them learnt to swim.

Opposite 'Bassets' in Durgates was a privately owned Dame School which in the 1930's was run for young children by two maiden ladies, Miss Tobitt and Miss Cutbush. This was known as Southlea School.


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Thanks For Looking (y)
 
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skeleton key

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Hello mate, it was a good day to get out and about and have some fun.

Great to see seccas on the ball these days and will say no more lol.

Cool share mate but will add you pics are a tad large and could poss do with reducing a bit.

Will catch up soon mate (y)

:comp

 

-Raz-

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Nice report mate, looks like decay is setting in more and more on every report of this place! :D

 

Otchie

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cheers guys :D :D only in some rooms raz. sk it was a good day when we see the gate shut and the dog barking fun time (y)

 

The_Raw

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That staircase is wicked and some other nice features too. The landscape pics size is ok but the portrait ones need to be a size down at least to fit on the page (y)

 

Otchie

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cheers The Raw yea am gonna move to flickr no more photobucket cant resize on it ffs.

 

Urbexbandoned

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This has to be one of my favourite explores, I never get bored of looking at new reports of this place. Great pics, I love the decay in the main hall and obviously that staircase. Thanks for sharing (y)

 

mookster

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One of my favourites thats for sure, good to hear secca are out and about again as it was very lax when I visited at the beginning of the year!

 

hamtagger

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That's a great looking place, some proper nice features there. Liking that detail piano shot :)

 
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