The Towers was founded by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. The Sisters left France for England to escape the increasing anti-religious environment, having been invited by Mrs Maling Wynch, a friend of the Congregation, to take up residence at The Towers, at the time leased by her brother-in-law. The first pupils arrived from France in 1903 to begin classes. After renting The Towers for several years, Elizabeth Maling Wynch, later to become Sister Mary Agnes, bought the property, and left it to the congregation in her will.[citation needed]
Due to the decreasing number of pupils, alongside an uncertain economic climate, the Trustees of The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament made the decision to announce that the school would close at the end of the 2020 academic year. In September 2020, Steyning Grammar School agreed to take a lease of the site to use the premises for their sixth form centre and the Sisters remain residents at The Towers to continue their community work.
The Towers
The Towers takes its name from the building and its surrounding premises. It was once owned by the Lord of the Manor of Beeding. The Towers was sold to George Smith during the 1870s. The original building was completed in 1883 and was described as a "monument to Victorian extravagance" or "Smith's folly" due to its construction cost. The Towers was turned into a hunting lodge before the Sisters took over.[1] The original buildings were designated Grade II listed buildings in 1980.[2]
