Heritage Day at Freemen's

This year marks a truly special milestone for Freemen’s, as we celebrate 100 years in Ashtead Park.

The school was originally founded in Brixton in 1854 to educate both boys and girls. In 1926, the City of London Corporation made the inspired decision to relocate us to the beautiful surroundings of Ashtead Park, something we continue to see as a stroke of genius! Nestled in the leafy Surrey Hills, Freemen’s enjoys a truly exceptional setting where neoclassical and contemporary architecture sit in harmony, surrounded by stunning greenery.

As part of our centenary celebrations, we were delighted to participate in the Heritage Open Days for the very first time last Sunday. This nationwide initiative celebrates local history and heritage by bringing communities together, and we were proud to welcome over 350 visitors to our campus.

In partnership with St Giles’ Church, we hosted a specially curated exhibition exploring Freemen’s rich legacy in Ashtead Park. Guests were invited to tour our campus and learn more about our history through a display of carefully selected objects from our extensive archives. The exhibition was curated and coordinated by our Alumni and Development Officer Sabina Lillyman and sparked engaging conversations between our visitors and staff.

One particularly touching moment came when our Headmaster, Mr Martin, met a visitor whose two brothers had joined Freemen’s as orphans many years ago and went on to become valued members of our school community. We were also privileged to hear from a woman whose grandmother worked as a Scullery Maid in the Main House before WWII, when the building, now Grade II listed, was under private ownership.

It was a true joy to welcome visitors of all ages and backgrounds to Freemen’s, and we hope everyone also enjoyed exploring the beautiful St Giles’ Church as part of the day.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the event such a memorable occasion, and to all who came to celebrate our heritage with us.

To stay updated on our centenary celebrations, running through to December 2026, follow us on social media for the latest news and events