Ditchling Talk Topic
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Old field Ditchling 1930/40
From:
christine | Area:
Ditchling | Type:
Village History | Date:
4 Mar 2010, 21:22 | |
| Hello I am researching my family history and have found out that my Great Grandfather lived at 4 Oldfield/Old Field Ditchling. Does anybody know where this is? My Grandmother use to go to a Boarding School in Ditchling. |
From:
Graham | Area:
Ditchling | Type:
Village History | Date:
8 Mar 2010, 17:00 | |
| We are trying to find an answer which should be available soon. |
From:
Tom Dufty | Area:
Ditchling | Type:
Village History | Date:
17 Mar 2010, 10:01 | |
Dear Christine
I’m afraid the road name Old Field or Oldfield doesn’t mean anything to me in Ditchling although I’ve lived here many years. I wonder if it could have been a house name. On the agricultural theme there is a ‘Farm Lane’ and ‘The Fieldway’. As to the boarding schools, I think the most likely is The Eastfield House Prep school for boys which started in the 19th century and unfortunately burnt down in 1919. The headmaster did not have it properly insured so it wasn’t rebuilt. The village grabbed the opportunity, raised funds and built a village hall on the site which remains to this day. Some of the old school walls were incorporated into it. It stands on what we now call The Lewes Road only a hundred yards from the village centre. The other possibility is North End School, subsequently renamed Dumbrells School, which also started in the 19th century and was primarily for girls until it started taking boys in, I think, the 1930’s. That closed in the 1980’s and is today a private house. Its claim to fame is that the current Duchess of Cornwall went there. Let me know if you’d like anything more. Tom Dufty
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From:
christine | Area:
Ditchling | Type:
Village History | Date:
2 May 2010, 18:33 | |
Hi Tom
Sorry about the late response to your post. You are right it was Drumbells in Ditchling. My grandmother also use to say something about Anne of Cleeves and the school but I cannot remember exactly. I am at a loss of my Great Grandfathers address. Do you know if there is any school records available for viewing.
Christine |
