The Grade II Former Legat’s School of Ballet in East Sussex was built in 1865.
Grade II-listed, 1865, George Goldie and E.W. Pugin
Whilst perhaps best known as the place where Nadine Nicolaeva-Legat established her school of ballet in 1970, this substantial redbrick Gothic building was originally operated by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus as an orphanage for girls. It was commissioned at the bequest of the Duchess of Leeds in 1869, and built to designs by two noted architects of Roman Catholic churches, with George Goldie responsible for the exterior, and E.W. Pugin for the interior. The religious convictions of these architects were not insignificant, and the building would maintain a relationship with the Roman Catholic Church for approximately one hundred years, becoming a seminary in 1925, before moving into educational uses, first as the Legat School of Ballet, and then as the Jameah Islamic School from 1992. The building fell out of use in 2007 following a raid by anti-terror police, and it is gradually falling into disrepair, but despite this, it has considerable potential for adaptive reuse.
Status Update / March 2026
Since appearing on our list in 2018, the building has continued to deteriorate due to a combination of factors, including water damage and arson attacks. The site has received considerable media attention due to anti-terrorism raids undertaken by the local police.