A bit late to the party for this one, but enjoyed it neither the less. An interesting building with rather alarming terrorist links.
History
The main Victorian building began life as St Michael's Orphanage. In the 1920s it later became St Joseph's College, a Roman Catholic Junior Seminary until 1970, before being converted into a ballet school. The Legat School of Ballet, formed by Nicholas Legat and his wife Nadine in London moved to the Marks Cross site in the 1970s and became residential. The ground floor of the main building holding academic lessons, the first floor housed two large dance studio and an art studio while the second floor attic was used for dormitories.
Closure came in July 1990 when Legat merged with Wadhurst College and moved to their site at Best Beech Hill, approximately 4 miles to the east, only for that site to close a few years later when a further merger with Bellerbys College occurred.
It then became Jameah Islameah School, a school to teach students to become Islamic leaders, training them to the level high enough to teach in local Masjids and Madrassas
On 1 September 2006 the Jameah Islameah school was searched by up to a hundred police officers as part of their operations, although no arrests were made. The local Sussex Police held a cordon around the site for 24 days in an operation that cost them over one million pounds. Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police searched the buildings and grounds and the lake.
On the evening of 2 September over 40 police officers entered a south London halal Chinese restaurant called The Bridge to China Town and, after talking to customers for over an hour, arrested twelve on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Two further arrests were made elsewhere in London.
By 6 September two men had been released.
On February 9, 2007, the Department for Education and Skills closed down the school, because it "continues to fail to meet the standards which all independent schools must meet under the Education Act 2002." The school had not been operating at the time, due to lack of students. The Jameah Islameah School Website remained open until July 2014.
Today it stands partially used, with the main building being used for some kinda of school function. Whether its like a Sunday school or something else, I don't know.
The Explore
I ended up here after going to Bellerby college, not realising Bellerby college was already being converted into housing. As Jameah Islameah is only a few miles away, seemed worth a punt while I was there.
I had heard that the main building was in use again, but the church annex was abandoned. As I approached I passed a large caravan. At first I thought this was a secca hut, but as I got closer it became clear it was just a derelict as the church I was trying to get to!
Its a really strange place because one side is completely derelict and overgrown, where the area outside the main building has nicely trimmed grass and children's swings.
Getting inside the church was easy enough. The doves inside flying round the rafters weren't too happy about me being there though.
After taking all of my photos I headed out the same way I came in, only to suddenly hear a bang of a door opening or closing very nearby. I aborted and found a different way out the other side of the building.
Strangely enough I found that there was a sign-posted public footpath right round the back of the building. It was almost like it goes straight through the back garden.
A very bizarre place.
Photos
I assume that car is the security. Take note of the spelling of the school. Everywhere seems to indicate that the school is spelt 'Jameah Islameah'. This says 'Jameah Islamiyah'.
The empty caravan
The church
This is the corridor connecting the church to the main building. It looks like they sealed this off with wooden panels.
The back of the Victorian building. This was taken at the edge of the Public footpath.
History
The main Victorian building began life as St Michael's Orphanage. In the 1920s it later became St Joseph's College, a Roman Catholic Junior Seminary until 1970, before being converted into a ballet school. The Legat School of Ballet, formed by Nicholas Legat and his wife Nadine in London moved to the Marks Cross site in the 1970s and became residential. The ground floor of the main building holding academic lessons, the first floor housed two large dance studio and an art studio while the second floor attic was used for dormitories.
Closure came in July 1990 when Legat merged with Wadhurst College and moved to their site at Best Beech Hill, approximately 4 miles to the east, only for that site to close a few years later when a further merger with Bellerbys College occurred.
It then became Jameah Islameah School, a school to teach students to become Islamic leaders, training them to the level high enough to teach in local Masjids and Madrassas
On 1 September 2006 the Jameah Islameah school was searched by up to a hundred police officers as part of their operations, although no arrests were made. The local Sussex Police held a cordon around the site for 24 days in an operation that cost them over one million pounds. Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police searched the buildings and grounds and the lake.
On the evening of 2 September over 40 police officers entered a south London halal Chinese restaurant called The Bridge to China Town and, after talking to customers for over an hour, arrested twelve on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Two further arrests were made elsewhere in London.
By 6 September two men had been released.
On February 9, 2007, the Department for Education and Skills closed down the school, because it "continues to fail to meet the standards which all independent schools must meet under the Education Act 2002." The school had not been operating at the time, due to lack of students. The Jameah Islameah School Website remained open until July 2014.
Today it stands partially used, with the main building being used for some kinda of school function. Whether its like a Sunday school or something else, I don't know.
The Explore
I ended up here after going to Bellerby college, not realising Bellerby college was already being converted into housing. As Jameah Islameah is only a few miles away, seemed worth a punt while I was there.
I had heard that the main building was in use again, but the church annex was abandoned. As I approached I passed a large caravan. At first I thought this was a secca hut, but as I got closer it became clear it was just a derelict as the church I was trying to get to!
Its a really strange place because one side is completely derelict and overgrown, where the area outside the main building has nicely trimmed grass and children's swings.
Getting inside the church was easy enough. The doves inside flying round the rafters weren't too happy about me being there though.
After taking all of my photos I headed out the same way I came in, only to suddenly hear a bang of a door opening or closing very nearby. I aborted and found a different way out the other side of the building.
Strangely enough I found that there was a sign-posted public footpath right round the back of the building. It was almost like it goes straight through the back garden.
A very bizarre place.
Photos
I assume that car is the security. Take note of the spelling of the school. Everywhere seems to indicate that the school is spelt 'Jameah Islameah'. This says 'Jameah Islamiyah'.
The empty caravan
The church
This is the corridor connecting the church to the main building. It looks like they sealed this off with wooden panels.
The back of the Victorian building. This was taken at the edge of the Public footpath.
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