Chailey Heritage School

  

 

Chailey Heritage School is located near Haywards Heath, Sussex and was founded in 1903 by Grace Kimmins who became a close friend of Winifred Fortescue. Grace was working in the East End of London with adults suffering from poverty-related diseases and deformities, when she became deeply moved by the many children born “crippled” (as it was termed then) as a result of these circumstances. It became clear to her that these were children for whom society had no time, for whom education was non-existent and the future was bleak. Without hesitation she decided to dedicate her life to giving these children as good a chance in life as any other. 

The Heritage began on one site and eventually spread to four before, in recent times, consolidating at its original location: this is often referred to as the Boys' Heritage or the Old Heritage. The Girls' Heritage was built half a mile away (but a good two miles by road) early in Chailey's history, later becoming known as the New Heritage. On the common across the road from the Old Heritage, was the boys' residential block - the wooden 'Kitchener huts' erected during the first world war giving way to an imposing range of brick buildings, St George's, in the 1930s. 

The fourth site was Warren Wood, the nurses home close to the New Heritage which was given in 1948 by Col J.R. Warren, whose family was to have a long involvement with Chailey - his son Michael was later a regular presence as chairman of the house committee. Thanks to generous donations of huge sums and small, the facilities were continually changing and improving at all these locations, and from 1924 until the second world war there was a further site at Tidemills, near Newhaven, housing the Heritage's 'marine annexe'.

 
Winifred with back to the camera The Queen and the Princesses in the cloisters in June 1945

Winifred with back to the camera with H.M. The Queen and the Princesses in the cloisters in June 1945

 

In 1945 Winifred helped Grace receive the Queen and the two young Princesses, when they visited Chailey Heritage School to open the Queen Elizabeth block. Winifred invited General Sicé of the French Red Cross to this ceremony and she and Grace helped him in his ‘dream of Chailey’ –  to set up his own ‘Chailey Heritage School’ for children injured during the war.  This he did near Paris.

 
Dick Whittington & Cat welcome the Lord & Lady Mayoress of London - Winifred is seated second from the right

Dick Whittington & Cat welcome the Lord & Lady Mayoress of London - Winifred is seated second from the right
 

During the the second world war, after her escape from France, Winifred made her home at 'Many Waters' near Ardingly in Sussex. Living quite near to Chailey Heritage School she became a frequent visitor and provided assistance in whatever way she could.

 
Chailey Heritage School

St. Martins Chapel and cloisters - Chailey  Heritage School
Chailey Heritage School

Main reception Chailey Heritage School
Chailey Heritage School

Main reception Chailey Heritage School
 

 A history of Chailey Heritage School

Chailey Heritage School was founded by Grace Kimmins, a young girl with a big heart and a determination only equalled by a few.  

She was working in the East End of London with adults suffering from poverty-related diseases and deformities, when she became deeply moved by the many children born “crippled” (as it was termed then) as a result of these circumstances. It became clear to her that these were children for whom society had no time, for whom education was non-existent and the future was bleak. Without hesitation she decided to dedicate her life to giving these children as good a chance in life as any other. 

She determined to build a school specifically for these children. It would be in the country where the beauties of life could be experienced. It would educate and teach a craft to ensure independence in adulthood. It would be a school they would be proud to be part of and it would always be there for them in times of need – their Heritage. She found an old workhouse at Chailey in Sussex. It had no electricity and the nearest telephone was three miles away in Plumpton. Undaunted, on June 6th 1903 she arrived with seven boys, “one for each day of the week” as she put it and her school was born. Her enthusiasm and her belief in her cause magnetised educationalists and medics, all wanting to give of their time to be part of this pioneering work and, in the same way, donations poured in from all over the country. Her positive attitude was infectious. The pupils’ first task was to make a little wooden ladder, each rung representing achievement; their first writing test was “There’s always room at the top”. 

By 1936 she had created a boys school and a girls school three miles away, both equipped with operating theatres and medical facilities where education and treatment could be practised together. This was so successful that when our hospitals were nationalised, in 1948, Chailey Heritage School went with them. The schools were extracted and amalgamated as a non-maintained special school and what was now the National Health Service provided the pupils’ medical needs. This partnership remains today with the school and this unique NHS service together on one site. 

Grace Kimmins, by now Dame Grace Kimmins, died in 1954 having achieved her dream. Her legacy, her spirit of determination and enthusiasm, remain with us today and the example she set, recognising a need and then working to fulfil it, strongly influences the work of the school a hundred years on.  

Her contribution to Special Education was truly significant and I am proud to be her granddaughter.

Written by the president of Chailey  Heritage School, Verena Hanbury, (Granddaughter of Dame Grace Kimmins). ©

Chailey Heritage School

Memorial to founder Dame Grace Kimmins
 
Chailey Heritage School

Awaiting renovation - Grace Kimmins' former home

Chailey Heritage School

As it was in 1903 - The Old Heritage
Chailey Heritage School

High altar in St. Martins chapel
Chailey Heritage School

Part of the lovely ceiling in St. Martins chapel
 

In 1944 Winifred wrote a pamphlet entitled ‘Palm Sunday at the Heritage’. It is very moving and fortunately a copy survived. Click on the picture below to open the pamphlet which is in Adobe pdf format.

Palm Sunday at the Chailey Heritage - click here to open and read the pamphlet

Palm Sunday at Chailey Heritage Chailey 1944

Chailey Heritage School is still extremely active carrying out marvellous work with modern facilities in Sussex. David Arscott has written a splendid 196 page book entitled, 'Chailey Heritage A Hundred Years', with numerous photo's and drawings detailing the complete history. It is available, price £12.99 plus p&p direct from the school. Use the link below to visit their excellent web site and learn how they operate in the 21st century.

Chailey Heritage A Hundred Years by David Arscott

Chailey Heritage A Hundred Years by David Arscott

Chailey Heritage

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Pictures & information - P.Riley, Verena Hanbury, Maureen Emerson, Fortescue family