Last Alteration: Sunday 07 April 2013
Lillesden School for Girls
Lillesden School for Girls
Hastings Road, Lillesden, Hawkhurst, Kent
Formerly known as Bedgebury Lower School
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. The house and estate remained in the family until just after the First World War, when it was then sold and eventually became the Bedgebury Girls Public School.
The school closed around 1999 and has been abandoned ever since. Due to the theft of its lead roof, water damage is now sadly causing the buildings to collapse. However, it is now owned by a property developed and expected to be converted into private apartments at some point in the future.
How to get here:
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Road: A21 (south) - From the A21, turn onto the A229 towards The Moor/Hawkhurst (Merriments Lane). When you reach The Moor, pass St. Lawrence's Church and then turn right onto Hastings Road. The school is a little way along on the right. +
Easiest to park by St Lawrence's Church and walk down to the school.
This location is private and has no or limited access only. This is a private building with no public access.
Access: privateStatus: recognisableExterior
Photograph taken: 24th March 2008 by Chuck Foster
"View of the school buildings from Hastings Road."
The Curse of Fenric (2)
Filmed: 14 Apr 1989
Ace finds a flask apparently abandonned in rubble.
Where to walk to next?
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St Lawrence's Church (The Curse of Fenric). Walk north along Hastings Road until you reach the church, on the left. (275 yards, 3m)
Other nearby locations:
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Bodiam Castle (The King's Demons, Robot of Sherwood). Road (3.2 miles, 8m) : Follow the B2244 (Hastings Road) south from the school.
Turn left onto The Elms (signposted Bodiam) and then
bearing right into Bodiam. The castle is to the south
of the village, on the left. Parking: included in admission fee. Castle car park (free to NT members)
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Yew Tree Farm (The Curse of Fenric). Road: Head north along Hastings Road, and then turn right onto the A229 to Hawkhurst
town centre. At the crossroads continue across on the A229, and the farm
area is on the left as you head out of the built up area. Parking: unknown. Unknown
Additional locations as the crow flies:
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Roses Farm (The Curse of Fenric): 2.47 miles. 
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Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (The Trial of a Time Lord ("The Ultimate Foe")): 13.56 miles. 
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High Rocks National Monument (The Mind Robber): 13.58 miles. 
General Details:
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3 Mar 2009: Jessica Stewart: Being a former Bedgebury girl myself, now at the grand old age of 23, Bedgebury Lower school actually closed down in 1999 as a school. We were all then told that the building was sold to a very wealthy family which by the looks of it either didn't happen or they weren't all that wealthy. Miss Wheelhouse was the headmistress at the time and I started in 1996 aged 11 and went all the way up and left the senior school in 2003.
Related Stories
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The Curse of Fenric [14 Apr 1989]: Tunnels beneath the church.
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All screen captures are the copyright of the BBC and appear here as reference to illustrate the location in comparison with how it looked at the time of filming and the present day; no attempt is made to supercede this or any other copyright.
