School, Deal, Kent

[Amy K]

Does anyone know anything about a boarding school at the address below?

Alfred House
High St
Deal
Kent

One of my bunch was there during the 1881 census.

[Bill749]

Hi Amy

The school you are looking for was called the Deal College for Boys.  The original school was called the Alfred House Academy, founded in the 18th century. 

Later, the Deal College became a boarding school for the sons of gentlefolk, the principal being James R Lush, five times Mayor of Deal.

The building was to become the Lloyd Memorial Home, or Caxton Seaside Home, for retired printers; later for convalescent policemen.

The College building (not the original Academy, which stood on the same site) still stands at the bottom of Alfred Square at the junction of High Street and College Road; it is now called Lloyd Court and is a block of flats.

If you can get hold of a copy of "Old Deal & Walmer" by Gregory Holyoake (pub. Meresborough Books 1989, ISBN 0905270401) it has pictures of the inside of the building when it was a convalescent home.

You can see what the building looks like today on my website at http://www.eastkent.freeuk.com/deal/streets/alfred_square.htm

Hope this helps.

Regards, Bill

[Nancy 297]

Hi Bill, I was interested in your response regarding Caxton Home, my GGrandfather died there in 1939 but I believe he worked for the railways not a printing company or the constabulry.  would you know where I could search to locate any records regarding the residents? 

Look forward to your reply
 Regards
Nancy

[Bill749]

Hi Nancy

Welcome to Rootschat

I don't know if any records exist for this establishment - I certainly have never seen any.  As it was privately run, any records may well have been destroyed.

I presume, since you know where and when he died, that you already have his death certificate?

Regards
Bill