All Soul's Convent
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The initial building of the convent on Magdalen Road was completed in 1834, with additional structures constructed over the subsequent six years. This development was financed by Reverend John Jones, who had retired to St. Leonards[1]. Reverend Jones aimed to provide employment opportunities for the unemployed workers of Hastings and St. Leonards. His efforts were supported by a legacy from Lady Barbara Stanley (née Towneley), a prominent Catholic benefactor and the widow of Sir William Stanley, 5th Baronet of Hooton and Stourton. Lady Stanley, who passed away on August 5, 1836, had bequeathed funds to establish a charitable institution[2].
Utilizing this inheritance, Reverend Jones acquired 15 acres of land, including the White Rock Field and the adjacent 18 Acres Field, part of the Eversfield estate. This property was designated as a center for Catholic charitable activities[2].
Initially, the premises were offered to several Catholic groups, but they declined due to its isolated location. Eventually, in 1848, the property was accepted by Mother Cornelia Connelly, founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, a Catholic religious teaching order. That same year, the society relocated its mother-house to St. Leonards[2].
In 1863, Mother Connelly established a similar institution at Mayfield, utilizing the ruins of the Old Palace. This Mayfield school merged with the St. Leonards school in 1953, forming St. Leonards-Mayfield School[2].
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References & Notes
- ↑ Brett Manuscript Histories Vol. 1 Chap. 11 Pg. 102
- ↑ a b c d East Sussex County Council Archive The Keep GB179_R_L_ACC12320_37_2
