Ash Grove House – the Sevenoaks mansion that became West Heath has a 250-year history
For generations of former West Heath pupils, the rambling mansion and extensive grounds in the middle of Sevenoaks Common was simply ‘school’. However, West Heath School – both old and new – represents less than half the life of the…
Old school ties really do last – an 80s reunion
It was another trip down memory lane for members of the West Heath 1981–1987 year group when they gathered for a reunion recently. The venue was the London home of Mr and Mrs Wellesley-Smith, where their daughter Louisa grew up…
More pictures from the past
As reported in last month’s story, Gorringe’s Auctioneers sadly denied the West Heath Old Girls Association permission to use the photographs and letters featuring Diana Spencer which had been put up for sale by former pupil Katherine Hanbury. However, the…
BBC pioneer’s path to success began at West Heath
What have Queen Victoria, Lord Nelson and Lord Byron, all got in common? They have all been the subject of BBC television documentaries, written and produced by a former West Heath School pupil. West Heath has an impressive list of…
Still not ringing any bells?
The question over whether there was once a large bell hanging somewhere on the West Heath estate remains unanswered. We appealed for memories after Laurence Corper contacted WHOGA and said he inherited a bell that his father told him came…
Can you help solve another school mystery…
Does this story ring any bells? Does anyone recall there being a bell at West Heath? Not a hand-held one, but a large bell which would have been hanging somewhere. Laurence Corper has contacted WHOGA to ask if anyone remembers…
Old girls clear up confusion over Miss Elliott’s accident
The confusion surrounding the location of the accident that caused the death of former West Heath headmistress Miss Phyllis Elliott, has finally been cleared up thanks to memories provided by former pupils. Previously, stories circulated that she drowned in January…
Where did ‘tragic mischance’ involving West Heath headmistress take place?
Miss Phyllis Elliot, the West Heath headmistress who made the bold decision to move the school from Ham Common to Sevenoaks in the 1930s, sadly drowned in a swimming pool accident in 1967, two years after her retirement. Miss Elliott…
Gail takes us back to West Heath during the 1950s in words and photographs
Gail Lynch (nee Malcolm) was a pupil at West Heath from 1955 to 1960. Here, with aid of her own photographs from that era, she describes some delightful memories of her time at the school and has helped bring some…
Photographic memory
Flash, bang, wallop, what a picture… By Frank ‘Scoop’ Baldwin When the receivers held an auction after West Heath closed its doors in 1997, it seemed anything and everything connected to the school went under the hammer. Even items like…