The Abbey, Storrington facts for kids
St Joseph's Abbey, also known as 'The Abbey', is a historic building in Storrington, Sussex, England. It started as a rectory, which is a house for a priest. Over time, it became a small country house and then a school run by nuns.
A House with Many Lives
The main building you see today was built between 1871 and 1872. It was designed by Reverend George Faithfull in a style called Victorian Gothic. This style was popular in the Victorian era and often looked like old castles or churches. When it was built, parts of the old 1621 rectory were reused.
In the 1880s, a man named Colonel Walter George Stirling lived there. He was a Baronet, which is a special title. He also had a famous group of Jersey cattle, which are a type of dairy cow.
Over the years, different people lived in the house and made changes. In 1911, some parts were given a semi-timbered look, which means they had wooden beams showing. In 1930, Colonel H.V. Ravenscroft added new brick sections. He also added a billiard room and a ballroom. These new parts were designed by an architect named John Leopold Denman.
From School to Abbey
In 1953, the house became a Dominican Convent and a boarding school. A convent is a place where nuns live and work. The school taught many students until it closed its doors in 1999.
What's Inside
The oldest part of the building has some interesting features. The room that used to be the Dining Room is now the Chapel. It has beautiful 19th-century linenfold panelling. This is wood carving that looks like folded cloth. The ceiling has decorative strapwork ribs, and there are lovely stained glass windows.
The Drawing Room has wood panels from the early 1700s. It also has a fireplace with columns attached to it. The room that was once the Library is now used as a Meeting Room. It has a stone fireplace that is even older, from the 1500s.
The main staircase is made of fancy oak wood. It has turned balusters, which are the decorative posts that support the handrail. There is also another staircase, called a well staircase, which is painted. It also has turned balusters and square newel posts (the main posts at the top and bottom of the stairs) with round decorations on top.
See also
In Spanish: Abadía de San José (Storrington) para niños
