Westbrook House - June 2011

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Priority 7

Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2010
Messages
1,307
Reaction score
2,021
Location
St Neots, Cambs
Westbrook House School wass Folkestone’s only preparatory school.Founded in 1947 by Kenneth ‘Fozzie’ Foster who hailed from Selby, the school was a dream job that he ran until 1968 (When he retired). It was then taken over by Naill Washington-Jones, who was determined to bring it back into prominence in Kent after years in the educational
wilderness. Westbrook House had been through the doldrums following many successful years as Westbrook House, Dover College Junior School, Dover College Prep. In the 1990's Heads changed rapidly – Stephen Abbott, Roger Lewis and
Lesley Watson.The 100 th Anniversary of Dover College saw it break away from Westbrook House and in 1994 Westbrook House again. In 1997 it came together with St Mary’s Convent as St Mary’s Westbrook. On the face of it, this seemed to be a sensible idea, but the two schools were in fact pulling in different directions.
The schools were separated again in July 2005. At some point in the 2000's the swimming pool, that was donated by parent and built by pupils in the 1960's filled in.August 3rd 2008 report in Sunday Times states the credit crunch has led to a “massive surge” in parents being pursued for unpaid school fees, quoting a leading firm of lawyers who represent independent schools.This eventually brought about the demise of Westbrook House, falling pupil numbers led to its closure.

Visited with Nelly, Skeleton Key and Tsstranger.....I was framed for the theft of a Choccie Cake :(


Some pictures from its past:

kngfoster1958jpgw180h217.jpg


Kenneth Foster

mapwestbrook1951jpgw560h380.jpg


Maps of its boundary's

StMarysConventShortcliffeRd1914_260x401.jpg


Some Internals

adormitoryjpgw560h419.jpg


aclassroomjpgw560h408.jpg



External

StMarysConventShortcliffeRd1914_260x401.jpg


One of the original buildings after a V1 strike

westbrookbomb.jpg


A class shot and a pupils school report

1965R.jpg


CSU19780007.jpg


Now my shots:

mary003.jpg


mary019.jpg


mary018.jpg


mary016.jpg


mary015.jpg


mary010.jpg


mary005.jpg


mary012.jpg


mary001.jpg


mary021.jpg


mary032.jpg


mary029.jpg


mary020.jpg


mary026.jpg


mary040.jpg


mary051.jpg


mary046.jpg


mary045.jpg
 
Research was a real pain due to the amount of name changes the school has gone through but I enjoyed the challenge
 
As Mr 7 has already said ,Westbrook House Preparatory School
This school was founded in 1947 by Kenneth Foster.

I came accross an account of how the school came into being and couldnt help but laugh at an early tale of urban exploring.
“Folkestone, Kent. in 1946 was just emerging from the war that had obliterated much of the town and surrounding area. Many buildings were either completely destroyed or badly damaged and rendered unihabitable. Some were battle-scarred and unloved, with broken windows, leaky roofs and overgrown gardens. Two such hapless victims of the bombing and general neglect were 54 and 56 Shorncliffe Road in Folkestone's West End.
ddddddddddddd.jpg


Kenneth Foster, a Yorkshire born son of a worsted manufacturer, ex-General Strike Police Reservist, ARP Warden and schoolmaster, climbed through the broken window of the empty and semi-derelict building accompanied by his brother, Group Captain (RAF retired), Arthur Foster. What they found was not the rot of war, but the germ of an idea for a new school”.
sssssssssssss.jpg


The school closed in 1968 and changed hands a number of times since
Dover College Junior School (WH) 1968-1994,

St Mary's Westbrook 1994-2005

Westbrook House Prep School
An Independent private co-educational day/boarding school for 3 to 13 year olds, and had 150+ pupils, Which closed its door on the 8th of june 2007 with very little notice due to what it described as falling number of pupils.
Anyway heres a few pic and have to say the day was a good giggle and thank you all.

walthamabbey110.jpg


walthamabbey032.jpg


walthamabbey040.gif


walthamabbey049.jpg


walthamabbey045.gif


walthamabbey063.jpg


walthamabbey093.jpg


walthamabbey077.jpg


walthamabbey081.jpg


walthamabbey086.jpg


walthamabbey091.jpg


walthamabbey084.jpg


walthamabbey073.jpg


walthamabbey035.gif


walthamabbey070.jpg


walthamabbey069.jpg


walthamabbey051.jpg



walthamabbey048.jpg


walthamabbey054.jpg


walthamabbey060.jpg


walthamabbey074.jpg


Well guess thats that for now
schools out lol

Was a great day peeps and more on the way and promise to start posting up some of the recent explore as ive been lazy and sitting on close to thirty now.
Dont ask just been so busey
Thanks for looking in and get out there

Sk / Neil :)



 
"Nice stuff guys, I thought it was about time I got my finger out and put mine up too

:)
The school started as Westbrook House School Shorncliffe Road in about 1947 as a boys only preparatory school under the headmastership of Kenneth Foster.

Without doubt the best prep school for boys in Folkestone. In the 1970's it became Dover College Junior School, before returning to Westbrook House.

It amalgamated with St Marist Convent for girls in the late 1990's to become St Mary's Westbrook.

Some old piccies of the place

2.jpg


3.jpg


1.jpg


1956.jpg


Visited with Skeleton Key, Priority 7 and Tstranger

2001.jpg


2000.jpg


2002.jpg


2003.jpg


IMG_6617.jpg


IMG_6621.jpg


IMG_6625.jpg


IMG_6630.jpg


IMG_6631.jpg


IMG_6633.jpg


IMG_6634.jpg


IMG_6640.jpg


IMG_6642.jpg


IMG_6644.jpg


IMG_6629.jpg


IMG_6646.jpg


IMG_6647.jpg


IMG_6649.jpg


IMG_6653.jpg


IMG_6654.jpg


IMG_6651.jpg


IMG_6657.jpg


IMG_6659.jpg


IMG_6661.jpg


IMG_6662.jpg


IMG_6665.jpg


IMG_6690.jpg


Thanks for looking

:)
 
Last edited:
nice pics bud was a giggle.:)
lets get some more done .
Time for somthing different me thinks ;)

SK / Neil :)
 
Love the stain glass windows and nice to see the place hasn't been Chavved.
 
Back
Top