College of the Holy Child Jesus, St Leonards, Sussex
 

 

The college was originally intended as a convent and church for the Sisters of Charity at an early stage in the Catholic Revival in England. It subsequently became the convent, schools and training college of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, founded by Cornelia Connelly.

It contains a fine grade ll* chapel and the associated early buildings are grade ll. However, it had accumulated a ramshackle collection of other structures by the time the Society left the site in 1976.

ACTA researched the history of the site, the significance and construction of its individual buildings and their architectural merit.

ACTA’s report assisted English Heritage in reviewing the listing of the buildings on the site. An enabling development which retains the significant buildings and the site’s contribution to the character of St Leonards is being considered.


 
 
The old convent buildings have a complex history and retain some architectural and historic interest


  
The Chapel is a largely intact building by Edward
Welby Pugin
 
From an analysis of attempts to complete Augustus Pugin’s chapel it was possible to reconstruct the probable original design
The college accumulated a strange mixture of buildings which have an unfortunate impact on the
surrounding open spaces
 

 
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