Wealden Times | WT175 | September 2016 | Education supplement inside
Wealden Times - The lifestyle magazine for the Weald
Wealden Times - The lifestyle magazine for the Weald
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WT <strong>Education</strong> Supplement<br />
Location<br />
location...<br />
education<br />
An inspiring environment can greatly enhance learning.<br />
Six head teachers tell us what they particularly value about<br />
their school’s buildings and settings<br />
David Clark, Battle Abbey<br />
“Some of the school buildings date back to 11th century and<br />
were commissioned by William the Conqueror himself.<br />
The Abbey is alleged to be built on the site of the<br />
Battle of Hastings although there is debate about<br />
this. A lot of the structures are part of a 13th century<br />
rebuild, including the gatehouse which was fortified<br />
during skirmishes with France. Some bits are much<br />
later, up to and including the Victorian period.<br />
Some of the owners showed a distinct lack of sympathy<br />
for the original medieval architecture and committed<br />
to improvement works that would now be considered<br />
acts of vandalism, including running a track way for carts<br />
through the floor of the original medieval church.<br />
The Abbey is known for its gargoyles which are believed<br />
to depict cultural or mythical aspects to the front, and<br />
staff who originally worked at the Abbey to the rear.<br />
Perhaps not surprisingly for a school with such ancient<br />
buildings there are plenty of ghost stories. The dormitory<br />
range, now ruined, where the monks ate their meals, lies<br />
to the rear of the school and there are regular reports of a<br />
figure known as the ‘black monk’ spotted in and around<br />
the ruins. He has also been caught on camera a couple<br />
of times by tourists, as have figures in medieval dress.<br />
Inside the Abbot’s House the eyes of the Blue Lady painting<br />
in the library are said to follow you around the room. Several<br />
other areas in the school are said to have at times had strong<br />
smells (primarily burning tar or rubber) and figures have been<br />
seen from time to time - one walking halfway up a room<br />
on a floor that had been removed over 200 years before.<br />
There are a number of places around the school which lend<br />
themselves to contemplation. The 11th century chapel next<br />
to the Headmaster’s office is a delightfully relaxing place as is<br />
either the main hall or the library bay window in summer.<br />
The Geography room has a magnificent vaulted ceiling<br />
and used to be the parlour which was the only spot on site<br />
where monks were permitted to talk, where locals would meet<br />
the brotherhood. Other than this the Benedictine order<br />
was silent – not a common feature of a busy school...”<br />
<br />
Above: The 13th century gatehouse of Battle Abbey Below:<br />
Pupils take an al fresco French lesson on the ‘Sixpenny Lawn’<br />
17 wealdentimes.co.uk