Battle Abbey School
Battle Abbey School is a private coeducational day and boarding school in the small town of Battle, East Sussex, England.[1] The senior school occupies part of the town's ruined abbey complex, and it is from here that the school derives its name. Originally formed as St Etheldreda's, in 1989 Glengorse and Hydneye was merged into the school.[2]
History
Battle Abbey was constructed at the behest of the Norman invader William the Conqueror to commemorate his victory in the Battle of Hastings at the site over the Anglo-Saxon King of England, Harold Godwinson in 1066. The abbey was suppressed during the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII and some of the abbey buildings were destroyed. The 13th-century Abbot’s house was preserved and passed into private hands, and numerous additional structures also survived including the 14th-century gatehouse (which now serves as the main school gate) as well as a ruined monks' dorter (dormitory).
The school was founded in 1912, as St Etheldreda's, Bexhill-on-Sea, by May Jacoby and her sister Helen Sheehan-Dare. It moved into the Abbey in 1922, with an enrolment of 33 girls. Within a year there were 100 girls and the Board of Education officially recognised the school in 1926. There was a major fire in 1931 which caused extensive damage, notably to the Abbot's Hall; restoration was carried out by the architect Harold Brakspear.
The Abbot's Hall now contains the (extremely) large painting of the Battle of Hastings by Francis Wilkin.
The Abbot's house now forms the centrepiece of the senior school, with the preparatory school and nursery situated in the nearby town of Bexhill-on-Sea.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Battle_Abbey_School.jpg/220px-Battle_Abbey_School.jpg)
Notable alumni
- Tana Ramsey, best-selling author and wife of Gordon Ramsey
- Georgina Henry, journalist
- George Mallory, Everest mountaineer (attended Glengorse 1896–1900)
- Dan Poulter, Conservative Member of Parliament for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, defected to Labour in 2024
- Clare Torry, singer
References
- ^ Battle Abbey School, Independent Schools Council, UK.
- ^ "History – Battle Abbey School". www.battleabbeyschool.com.
External links
- School Website
- Profile on the Independent Schools Council website
- v
- t
- e
- Ark Alexandra Academy
- Beacon Academy
- Bexhill High Academy
- Blatchington Mill School
- Brighton Aldridge Community Academy
- Cardinal Newman Catholic School
- Causeway School
- Cavendish School
- Chailey School
- Claverham Community College
- Dorothy Stringer School
- The Eastbourne Academy
- Gildredge House Free School
- Hailsham Community College
- Hastings Academy
- Heathfield Community College
- Hove Park School
- King's Academy Ringmer
- King's School
- Longhill High School
- Patcham High School
- Peacehaven Community School
- Portslade Aldridge Community Academy
- Priory School
- Ratton School
- Robertsbridge Community College
- Rye College
- St Catherine's College
- The St Leonards Academy
- St Richard's Catholic College
- Seaford Head School
- Seahaven Academy
- Uckfield College
- Uplands Academy
- Varndean School
- Willingdon Community School
- Battle Abbey School
- Brighton College
- Brighton Girls
- Buckswood School
- The Drive Prep School
- Eastbourne College
- Greenfields School
- Lewes Old Grammar School
- Mayfield School
- Michael Hall School
- Roedean School
- Bede's School
- Ark Helenswood Academy
- Ascham St Vincent's School
- Ashdown House
- Bellerbys College
- Bodiam Manor School
- Clovelly-Kepplestone
- The Dharma School
- Falmer High School
- Hill Brow Preparatory School
- Jameah Islameah School
- Ladycross School
- Mayfield College
- Moira House School
- Ovingdean Hall School
- Queenwood Ladies' College
- Rye Studio School
- St Aubyns School
- St Cyprian's School
- St Mary's Hall
- St Peter's School
- Southover Manor School
- Temple Grove School
- Uckfield School
- UTC@Harbourside