In 1746, apparently for the full sum of 500 pounds, the Charity Farm was purchased. A brief description of the land indicates a house, and probably other buildings, were already on the site, therefore by implication it was a working farm when bought. The property almost certainly stood on land once belonging to Lord Abergavenny and, indeed, was more than likely tenanted at the time of purchase. It has been considered that the tenant farmer then could well have been the David Dadswell we have mentioned before, whom we now know married the schoolmaster's daughter, Ann, and who together brought up their family at the farm which David managed for the Fermor Trust

By 1783, George, Lord Abergavenny, who was made Earl, remained the sole surviving trustee. David Dadswell was then schoolmaster and tenant of Charity Farm, and no doubt had been part of a committee welcoming John Fermor's son, the Rev John Shirley Fermor, to the Crowborough chapel in 1776.

The schoolmaster replacing David Taylor Dadswell in 1845 was Stephen Wickens. We do not know very much about this gentleman, except that some members of his family served as churchwardens at Rotherfield, and that he either left or died in 1851. His successor was Joseph Wickens, who may have been a son. A Joseph Wickens was churchwarden in 1839, a date perhaps too early for this Joseph to be the same person as the schoolmaster. However, we do know that Joseph Wickens the schoolmaster served until the autumn of 1873, for in November that year a meeting was called to elect a new schoolmaster .......... Mr Jeremiah Davis.

Under the terms of the original Scheme, the Governors of the Sir Henry Fermor's Foundation were to take charge of the old Fermor Trust until, following negotiations with the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, a final severence and settlement of the endowment fund was completed. This aspect, the formal separation of the church or chapel from the school, came about on 17 September 1880 - the founding date of All Saints' Church.

Although 23 October 1877 was the date the school could operate as an independent body from the Trust, it was not the date the new school appeared on the Charity Farm site. Construction began in 1878, and completion came near the end of 1880, possibly coinciding with 17 September, the date the old schoolhouse became the property of the Church. Up until that time, the schoolhouse had been in use under the mastership of Mr Jeremiah Davis, who then became the first headmaster of the new Sir Henry Fermor School.

In the history of any school, there will always be one teacher who stands out above the rest. That teacher arrived in 1883, and was Thomas Warmington. A natural teacher, he was able to inspire those he taught. Under him, the school established its quality and its excellence. Those who knew him did not forget him, for he worked hard and cared much. His firm, positive attitude was demonstrated from the very beginning. And yet he was only a young man of 22, as yet unmarried, when he first arrived at Fermor School.

One can almost feel the sigh of relief as he takes over. Here was a man ready to lead. But he was not a tall man, as one imagines leaders to be. He was, perhaps, 5' 5" or 6" in height, well built, well dressed, and struck a handsome pose with a pleasant round face which bore a full, but not thick, black beard and smiling eyes. He was a respectful and cooperative man to whom everyone, male or female, would take an immediate liking.

The Rev Akroyd, ever since his appointment to Crowborough, had seen the need for more development at the school and had supported Mr Warmington in getting extra classroom space. By 1887, the governors had fully considered the matter and were now persuaded to go ahead. Plans had been prepared, and the builders ready to start.

2 October - "Re-opened School today after a holiday of six weeks. During vacation, the school premises have been repainted and renovated. The building of a new classroom has also commenced, but the work will not be finished for several weeks . . . "

Come mid-November, with all the activity going on in the school, there was a growing concern at the approach of the HMI's visit and the school's readiness for the exams that had been notified for the end of the month. While Mr Warmington and his teachers struggled to prepare the ground for the examinations amidst all the chaos, the school governors decided to call two meetings to discuss Government proposals for the provision of free elementary education in the following year. The financial consequences were viewed as possibly serious. In fact, free elementary education did. not become fully implemented until 1891. In school meantime, the builders had drawn a very fine line and only just managed to complete the new classroom a day or two before the examination.

28 November - "The new Infants' room, being now finished, will be ready to receive the children tomorrow for the first time."

On Friday, 13 October, one of the governors, Boys Firmin, hearing that Mrs Warmington had had to take urgent leave of absence to care for her now critically ill husband, took himself to the school to see what could be done. On the Monday following, 16 October, he returned. School had already begun. But in the early hours of that morning, Thomas Warmington had died. Boys Firmin gathered the teachers and pupils and informed them of the sad news. Soon after, the pupils and staff were quietly dismissed, and the school was closed at lunchtime.

Thomas Warmington was buried a week later in All Saints' churchyard. At the time of his death, he was just 38 years of age. He had been headmaster for 16 years.

"I, J E Holden, Trained Certificated Master, Commenced work in school as HeadMaster."

Joseph Edward Holden, selected from 100 applicants for the post of headmaster, arrived in Crowborough with his wife, two sons and a daughter, just days before formally taking over the school. There's no doubt he felt he had rather a lot to live up to considering the reputation of Thomas Warmington, the master before him. But Joseph Holden was more than equal to his task, and those who have spoken of him, loved him disciplinarian that he was.