Introduction
It is hoped that this site will provide a place where former pupils of Seafield Park, Newells and Newells & Desmoor at Handcross park are able to re-establish contact and use the website to refresh memories of the school. Should you wish to leave a message on the website or submit photos or memories of your time at the school please forward details to me at : [email protected]. I will then add your entry to the Alumni or Photo sections. Those that attended Handcross park school and Brighton College Prep have their own excellent web site at https://www.brightoncollegeprephandcross.co.uk
Visits to Newells and Newells Rough ( The woods)
The area where the main house (Now replaced by a modern house) and gardens stood, stables and kitchen garden area are all in private hands and are not open for visits.
The old swimming pool is on a public footpath but the woodlands do not technically have public rights of way.
The woods ( Newells rough) are owned by the Storey family who live at Newells farm . Should you wish to visit the woods there is no need to clear your visit with the owners,however, the owners are just embarking on a five year programme (2023)of rhododendron clearance and restoration of the woodlands. At times, there will be machinery operating in the woods with tree felling in progress. Anyone travelling from far afield should get in touch first, just to make sure they can access the woods.
Contact with the owners by email : [email protected]
(My thanks to Mrs H Storey for the above information)
8th March 2023. IVisited the Newells area, met Mrs Storey and confirmed the above regarding visits. TK
Tuesday 6th June 2023 . I visited Newells rough and had a wander around. The main path was clear but otherwise generally very overgrown with few recognisable features from my time at Newells. The remains of the fallen giant Beech tree are clearly visible. I was told that there is a tree with the remains of a tree house in it and with initials carved into the bark, but I didn’t find it. TK
Thursday 14th November 2024. Visited Newells again and walked around the woods/Newells rough. Much of Newells Rough is clear of trees and undergrowth now, with just a few of the larger trees left, very many shoots/small bushes of Rhododendron are coming up. TK
About the web designer ; I attended Seafield Park school in its last term at Endsleigh. Nr Tavistock, under the headmaster Mr Webb, it having been recommended to my parents by my Godfather who was an ex Seafield park student from its days at Fareham. The school moved to Lower Beeding and became Newells. The headmaster being Captain Peter Hope-Lang. I left Newells and moved on to Uppingham , a high church public school still embedded in the strict Victorian traditions established by Thring. Rather a shock to the system after the relative freedoms of Newells. On leaving Uppingham I started on an engineering apprenticeship but soon found myself unsuited to this career, so joined the Royal Marines, where I served for the next 22 years and watched the sun set on the British Empire. I moved to Northern Norway on leaving the Marines to join my Norwegian wife , whom I had met whilst on NATO exercise in Norway. I remained in Norway for the next 38 years having a career there in the Industrial security industry. My wife died in 2017 and after a year or so planning I returned to retirement to England and East Devon. I am pleased to say I am still in contact with Old Newellian,Old Uppinghamian and ex Royal Marine friends so hope that this website will enable ex pupils and friends from Seafield Park and Newells get back in touch.
Tom Kendal ( Seafield Park & Newells. 1946 – 1950)
Web site updated 04.10.2025