The Lillesden Estate was bought and built by Colonel Edward Loyd. The home was passed down to the son of Edward Loyd and was requisitioned and used in World War I as a hospital for wounded soldiers. After the World War the house and a few acres were sold separately to the Saint Wilfred’s Boys Preparatory School in 1922. 14 years after it was sold again and became the Saint Cuthbert’s Girls School. Sadly, World War II occurred in 1940 and it was requisitioned as a hospital again. After the war was over it became a school again, this time the name was changed to Lillesden and expanded. By 1975, the school merged with Bedgebury and became the Bedgebury Lower School. Unfortunately for the school, it was closed in 1999 due to a lack of students. The buildings and property were for sale .The plans are stated to be that of apartments and house developments. It was listed as a “DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY! A Grade II listed manor house set within approximately 23 acres with PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED for conversion into 14 luxury apartments, 4 detached houses, and a terrace of 6 houses”. It allegedly sold for 2 and a half million Euros.
