SEARCHLIGHT WORKSHOPS
Mount Pleasant
By Carol Walton and Laurie Stonehouse
SEARCHLIGHT WORKSHOPS
Claremont Road, Mount Pleasant.
Searchlight was founded in 1933 by Miss Muriel Powell, who for several years had been matron of the Bishopstone branch of Chailey Heritage. She had cared for disabled children until they reached the age at which they would leave school, but there seemed to be no place for them in the able-bodied world. Miss Powell was determined to help by attempting something quite new. With her savings she bought a bungalow next to the old Searchlight battery above Newhaven, and with three disabled young men as her staff, went into business making jam and sweetmeats. Wartime rationing put an end to this and Miss Powell turned to handicrafts and chair caning, for which the Searchlight workshops are now well known.
Searchlight quickly grew, and in 1947 a new building was opened which provided a workshop for 36 disabled men. Another building was opened in 1951 by Her Grace the Duchess of Norfolk who became Searchlight's patron, and in 1958 a building for recreational purposes was added. Money was then raised to provide buildings and care for the disabled men when they retired, or could no longer work. Today there are three residential houses which accommodate around 47 men and women with physical and learning disabilities, and a day centre that enables them to undertake a variety of activities. Everyone, staff and clients alike, contribute to and benefit from the sense of community which exists there.
Muriel Powell - Founder of Searchlight Workshops
Searchlight
Original Searchlight Bungalow - c1933
Searhlight
Searchlight Workshops from Station Road - c1950
Searchlight
Residents of Searchlight in Claremont Road - c1950
Searchlight
Construction of Powell House - 1956
Searchlight
Drove from Searchlight - 1956
Searchlight
Muriel Powell meets the Queen - c1962
Searchlight
Webb House Building Appeal - 1986
Searchlight
Constructing Webb House - 1986/87
Searchlight
Opening day for Webb House - April 1987
Searchlight
Princess Michael of Kent Visits Searchlight - April 1987
Searchlight
Searchlight Workshops - 2009
L Stonehouse
Searchlight - 2009
L Stonehouse