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skin
03-08-2009, 01:01 AM
Lillesden School for Girls


The school occupies what used to be the Lillesden Estate Mansion, built at the estate (south of Hawkhurst) in 1855 by the banker Edward Loyd, who moved there after marrying and closed in 1999.
Now the mystery – architecture wise and from the décor and some of the ornate mouldings there appears to be a Scottish connection to this building. At first I romanticised that Edward Lloyd built this house for maybe a Scottish wife. However he married on the 12th March 1846 at Ashton-on-Mersey, Caroline Louisa Foster. In 1853 he bought the Lillesden estate at Hawkhurst, Kent and built a the mansion, finished in 1855. He himself was of Welsh descent. His wife was from a distinguished family living in Jamaica and was in fact born there, I traced her family back five generations and no Scottish roots whatsover as I did his family. The Lloyds sold the estate just after the first world war when it became a school – the earliest reference I can find is a class of 1920, the school merged with Bedgebury School in 1976 and became the Lower Bedgebury School.


Today it has planning permission for coversion to apartments.


One other point to note was the location was used in The Curse of Fenric – if you’re a Dr Who fan.


I just adored this place…..and very nearly had a very very close encounter with a swim whilst I was there.
Visited with Lulatahula.




http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3782363049_e0f25d994e_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/3783178804_cb738a2b0e_o.jpg



A Scottish connection?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/3783179086_5ac8fe1ee5_o.jpg


Above the door - Edward Lloyd mottif.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2674/3783178386_9d17a712fa_o.jpg



The arches all had celtic knotwork decor
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3782363599_44ddee5c59_o.jpg


One of the large mirrors
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3783176480_b3ac7eb8c3_o.jpg



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3783173768_ef921d146a_o.jpg




http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3426/3782364541_c50b1f7977_o.jpg



Inside the clock tower looking down to where I took pic one
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/3783176972_046942f42b_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2489/3782366591_e7bb8890e8_o.jpg



The school dining hall
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3782371677_4a20650e22_o.jpg



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3783181374_2458e1c0b6_o.jpg



School stage scenery
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/3782369309_cce2e6a9f1_o.jpg



Where I so nearly went for a swim – outdoor pool
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/3783179762_a8f0959f14_o.jpg



classroom corridor
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2539/3782370571_6b4a477afe_o.jpg


this looked like a chemistry classroom
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/3782370775_0ac5a49abc_o.jpg



no more ladies of the manor hang their coats here
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/3783182260_09b17f8a7c_o.jpg



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3783178190_dd771b1036_o.jpg



Thanks for looking

skin
03-08-2009, 10:59 AM
bad pic of clock mechanism Mr KE

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3783955779_016cd1afe7_o.jpg

wolfism
03-08-2009, 02:43 PM
Liking the stone carvings - you're right that there must be a Scots connection by marriage, it's usually the case when a rose and a thistle are carved into the column capitals like that. How did you almost manage to go into the pool?