The main building and attached chapel were built in the Gothic style, primarily of red brick[3] and are Grade II listed,[4] having been designed by E. W. Pugin.

Located on Little Trodgers Lane, on a 400 ft. hill midway between the valley of the River Rother and the village of Mark Cross, ground was broken for the original orphanage in 1864.

Until 1913, Pugin's vision stood untouched as a distinguished edifice visible from many miles around, faithful to his plans, but owing to faulty foundations the building had to be underpinned at this time.

It was almost a century before the spire was replaced and the building's majesty restored.On 19 May 1868, less than a dozen Xaverian brothers arrived with the first 30 orphan boys from the original orphanage in St. Leonard's-on-Sea where they had been wounded by stoning and suffered continual verbal abuse.

[12] The funds left by the Duchess were found to be inadequate for even such a small number of boys so in 1883 permission was obtained from the Charity Commissioners for the acceptance of regular fee-paying boarders.

In 1884, it was decided to admit boys who desired to be Brothers, collected together from various Xaverian schools, to give them special religious training at Mayfield but this project was deemed largely unsuccessful and promptly discontinued.

Most of the Brothers had practical skills and so refectory tables, wainscoting and linen-room cupboards are a few examples of surviving woodwork meticulously hand built by Bro.

Pupils of all denominations were encouraged to maintain their religious commitment but the Catholic faith was the integrating principle, providing an ethos for work and play at the school.

In the second half of the 20th century the House System was the most important element in a pupil's life at Mayfield, and was used to foster both camaraderie and competition in sporting, social and cultural activities.

Everyone was expected to play a role and contribute to their House, and as a senior pupil it was the main mechanism through which to discover and develop a capacity for leadership in preparation for later life.

"In addition to what is normally termed Catholic education we aim to give boys practice in the right use of liberty and to develop in them a sense of true responsibility," explained the headmaster in 1966.

From 1915 onwards weekends were given over to Cadet Training (Saturday) choir practice and obligatory Mass attendance for all Catholic boys, sports and letter writing (Sunday) interspersed with very little unorganised time.

Uniforms in 1891 consisted of a dark blue jersey with sleeves, a porkpie cap and an Eton collar worn on Sundays and special occasions.

During World War II Army & Home Guard Schools brought professional week-long and weekend courses for both officers and cadets where pupils and staff had very real defense responsibilities.

In 1957 a Nissen hut was built and regular training by Brothers and lay ex-servicemen continued in the use of firearms, military drilling, signals and fieldcraft which were all taught in a separate Saturday curriculum.

They had acquired the two colleges as show pieces in their language school firm but quickly realised that the serious state of disrepair of both properties would never allow their investment to repay.

[26] After Walters' death and interment in the on-site graveyard in 2005, demolition of the various newer outbuildings commenced, at which time Weston Homes Plc,[27] under the guidance of English Heritage,[28] started restoration work to the main school and chapel buildings.

An auction was held for some of the chapel artifacts, and the organ was donated to St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic church in Mayfield village, where it was fully restored and installed.