Former pupils and staff invited to share school memories

A special heritage project led by Over The Wall Camp is inviting pupils and staff to share their memories of a former school, which has now become the charity’s new base.

The ‘Saving Ockbrook’s Heritage’ Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, aims to capture and celebrate Ockbrook School’s rich history.

At over 220 years old, Ockbrook School was one of the oldest private schools in the UK until its closure in 2021.

In 2024, Over The Wall Camp secured a 40-year lease for the school.

The charity is busy transforming the site to be ‘camp ready’ to welcome children and young people with long-term health conditions in summer 2026.

Gordon Collins, Over The Wall Camp’s heritage officer, said: “We’d love to hear from anyone who attended Ockbrook School as boarders, day pupils or members of staff, who’d like to tell us about their time here.

“The stories can be shared in person, written down or captured on video.

“We’ve already heard some wonderful tales of pupils sliding down bannisters and chilly swimming lessons in the school pool, and, of course, the making of life-long friendships.”

Alumni stories will form part of a Heritage Room, which is being created on site and will be open to the public.

A team of heritage volunteers are currently helping to catalogue and preserve school records and artefacts.

Ockbrook School has a long history of education dating back to 1799.

Gordon said: “The Moravian Church created the original site. In the mid-1700s, a local farmer invited a travelling preacher to visit Ockbrook.

“A small religious community formed, and as the settlement grew, the Moravians became a key part of village life.

“The site is considered rare and of high historical value, as one of only four such settlements nationally.”

Pupils and staff interested in sharing memories can click here.