Standing like a fortress overlooking the English Channel, Roedean is probably the best known girls’ public school in Britain.

From modest beginnings in Brighton, it has expanded over the years to cover more than 100 acres of land east of the main city.

Its fees have been higher than the nearby cliffs but Roedean has always contended it gives girls an education to match them.

Roedean was started in the later Victorian era by the formidable Lawrence sisters. There were three of them, Dorothy, Millicent and Penelope They were later joined by a fourth sister called Sylvia.

They opened the school in Lewes Crescent with ten girls in 1883 and called it Wimbledon Park after their old home in London. It expanded rapidly into Sussex Square and Arundel Terrace.

But the big move to the present site was made in 1899 after the sisters had bought land and hired Sir John Simpson to design imposing buildings.

The frontage was 500 feet long and designed in Flemish style. Boarding houses were provided in the four gables.

It was the aim of all the sisters to provide girls with a proper education. Until then it had too often been modest.

There was also a strong emphasis on physical education and the girls thought little of running to Bevendean and back over the Downs.

Roedean was a big success and it continued to grow fast. Over the years additions included a sanatorium, a junior school, a swimming pool and a chapel.

The school did not do things by halves. When a new theatre was provided it was one of the biggest in Brighton.

It gained access to the beach by constructing a tunnel connecting the school to the Undercliff Walk.

Penelope was perhaps the most remarkable of the sisters. She was one of the first women to gain a place at Cambridge. She was the first headmistress of Roedean and held the post for nearly 40 years.

She was succeeded by Dame Emmeline Tanner who was there another 25 years and in 1971 Roedean made news all over the world by appointing a man, John Hunt, as head.

During the Second World War the buildings were requisitioned and thousands of naval officers were trained there.

Above each bed was a notice which read: “Press the button if for any reason you need a mistress in the night.”

Notable old girls include Nancy Spain, Katharine Whitehorn, Sarah Miles, Baroness Lynda Chalker Jill Balcon and Nancy Banks-Smith.

Roedean has continued to expand, not least in taking over the neighbouring school in Kemp Town of St Mary’s Hall in Eastern Road. This was one of the oldest girls’ schools in Britain.

Its intake has been international and large number of girls these days come from other countries to be educated there.

But the underlying principles of the Lawrence sisters remains strong in Roedean and the girls are encouraged to learn about them.