OUR HERITAGE
Lindisfarne College opened its doors to students for the first time in 1953. Since then the College has built up a unique heritage which has strong links to the Presbyterian Church and its Scottish origins. The character and values of the Christian faith have always been an important part of the College’s ethos.
The Beginning
The College started with 33 foundation pupils on April 14th, 1953 and was made possible by the generosity of E.J. Herrick who offered the land and buildings of his Hastings farmlet named "Lindisfarne" to the Presbyterian Church for £20,000. He gifted £5,000 of this amount to the College if the extra £15,000 was raised within a month. Excited by the prospect of establishing a private Presbyterian Boys' boarding school in Hastings, the school's three founding fathers: Reverend F.H. Robertson (the College's first Rector), A. Kirkpatrick (the first College Council Chairman), and R.D. Brown, raised the necessary funds within the month, thanks to the generosity of a relatively small group of local supporters.
Lindisfarne College occupies a generous area of land featuring magnificent trees planted by Eddy Herrick, some of which are of national significance. The administration functions of the school are housed in the original Herrick homestead and additional buildings have been built in a similar style to maintain the character of the campus. The history of the Herrick family and the service they gave to their community and country are important aspects of College’s culture and are referenced throughout the Homestead building.
The Homestead and other College buildings have been improved and refurbished over the years to exacting modern standards, but great efforts have been made to retain the heritage value of the original buildings. This ensures that the College provides a modern learning environment within a heritage setting. The extensive grounds and beautiful sports fields also help to create an environment which enables our students to make the most of their education.