St Margaret's Convent, Midhurst

St Margaret's Convent was a mixed primary and an all-girls secondary convent school in Midhurst, West Sussex.

St Margaret's Convent
Address
Map
Petersfield Road

Midhurst
,
West Sussex
,
GU29 9JN

England
Coordinates50°59′10″N 0°44′26″W / 50.98605°N 0.74061°W / 50.98605; -0.74061
Information
TypePrivate school
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1888
FoundersSisters of Mercy
Closed2009
GenderGirls

St Margaret's was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1888. By the 21st century pupil numbers dropped substantially as parents opted to send their children to state schools or independent schools such as Seaford College less than a 20-minute drive away. The senior section closed in 2002 and it became a junior school. It was initially proposed that Seaford's junior school and St Margaret's would merge but the plans fell through and closure was inevitable.[1] In July 2009, hundreds of Midhurst locals and former pupils gathered at the school compound for the farewell ceremony.[2]

The building it once occupied was designated a Grade II listed building in 2010.[3] The Sisters continued their presence in Midhurst after the school's closure.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Midhurst School to close after takeover talks founder". Chichester Observer. 9 April 2009.
  2. ^ "Hundreds say farewell as convent school closes". Midhurst and Petworth Observer. 6 July 2009.
  3. ^ Former St Margaret's Convent School - British Listed Buildings