Catalogue description Raven's Croft School, Eastbourne

Records of Raven's Croft School, Eastbourne

Raven's Croft School, Eastbourne

Records are open for consultation

• East Sussex
• Boarding schools

The school was established in 1895 by Miss Isabel Mullins (died 15 December 1952) and her sister Miss Margaret Mullins (died 13 February 1954) at 'Bournside', Kenley, Surrey. Shortly afterwards it moved to a larger house nearby called Raven's Croft which was adopted as the name of the school. In April 1904 it moved to a more 'countrified' house at Warlingham, Surrey and in September 1909 to new premises in Sutton Avenue, Seaford. However, in 1915 a large military camp was placed close to the house and so the school moved to premises at Mount Road, Eastbourne

In May 1940 the school was evacuated to the Thurlestone Hotel, Thurlestone, Devon, but following the hotel's requisition by the Admiralty in January 1941, the school moved temporarily to nearby Hope Cove, South Huish where it occupied a variety of houses. Soon after, the school moved to Court Hall, the home of Lord Poltimore, North Molton, Devon which they shared with St Winifred's Girls' School from Eastbourne. At the end of the war the school moved back to Eastbourne

The proprietor, the former headmistress Miss West, sold the school in April 1960 to a company formed by the parents. The school closed shortly before a disastrous fire which was reported in the Evening Argus, 6 June 1966

The school motto was 'altiora peto' meaning 'I seek higher things'

Head teachers

Miss Margaret Mullins, 1895 - Jul 1923

Miss F M West, Sep 1923 - Nov 1948[cab]

Miss V I Chinneck, [oab]Nov 1948 - Jul 1951

Miss N C Roberts, Sep 1951 - Nov 1964[cab]