Work underway to transform Yesterday's World into Martlet House

Battle Abbey School’s estates team and external contractors have been hard at work at the former Yesterday’s World site reverting the warren of shop fronts and displays into the original spaces.

The museum site, when complete, will provide extra classrooms, a conference facility, fitness studio and café area for use by its sixth form pupils and the wider community.

Uta Acuna, deputy bursar at Battle Abbey School, said: “We are working closely with the planners to ensure that we uphold the historic fabric of the building and retain as much of the historical character as possible.

“Any development needs to be as sympathetic to the heritage and history of its High Street location as possible and this has been a primary concern for the development team.

“In some cases we have left features from the Yesterday’s World museum in situ to reference the former uses of the building.

“As with all listed developments we have come across some surprises during the early stages but we were expecting this so have factored in contingency to cover any additional spend.

“We are still on schedule with the development and, as originally hoped, will be on target to open the rear part of Battle Abbey School’s new Martlet House development after Easter, with the High Street frontage and original house opened in time to receive our pupils in September.”

The former ‘Royal Room’ at the museum currently houses the Battle Town model, which the school’s pupils are working with Battle resident, Michael Dawes to restore and develop as part of their extra -curricular programme.

Headmaster David Clark said: “Space is at an absolute premium at the Abbey and, with Battle Abbey School attracting record numbers this academic year, it is important for the ongoing development of the school to expand in to external space.

“The school has a fantastic history of sending sixth form students on to top universities.

“Our 98 percent A-Level pass rate means we are on average sending 38 percent of our leaving sixth form pupils on to Russell Group Universities or Oxford and Cambridge.

“As such demand for places in our sixth form from local secondary schools is at a record high.

“Martlet House which occupies a surprising amount of space in central Battle, will allow Battle Abbey School to cater for increased demand for sixth form places from schools like St Richards, Robertsbridge and Claverham.”