One hundred years after it was opened by the Duke of York, Margaret McMillan House in Wrotham is in new ownership. Once a pioneering children’s retreat, this historic Kent landmark has ties to Deptford, the royal family, and the evolution of early years education in Britain

Posted on 9 March 2026

Margaret McMillan House in Wrotham, Kent, is about to embark on a new chapter. One hundred years after it was opened by the Duke of York - later King George VI  - this much-loved local landmark has entered new ownership.

Some properties truly stand out to the team at Hindwoods as we guide them through the sale process, and this has been one of them. Its story is remarkable - with connections to Deptford, the royal family, Nancy Astor (the first female MP), and the development of early years education in Britain.

The house was named after Margaret?McMillan, a pioneering educationalist who dedicated her life to improving the health and welfare of young children. She and her sister Rachel championed the idea that early education could transform lives, helping to lift children out of poverty and ill health.

In 1910, they opened two small schools in Deptford. One of their most revolutionary ideas was to create open-air ‘camp schools’ where children slept in fresh-air shelters, went to bed clean, and were read bedtime stories. The results were dramatic: illness rates dropped, and the concept soon spread across South London.

Wealthy supporters, including Queen Mary, helped fund the schools through private donations. After Rachel’s death in 1917, the Queen contributed further funds to continue the work. In 1924, Nancy Astor met Margaret McMillan and went on to finance a new site in Creek Street, Deptford, that became the Rachel McMillan Training College. 

When Margaret passed away in 1930, a new trust chaired by Nancy Astor sought a lasting memorial to her work. Their vision was a countryside version of the pioneering camp school, close enough for Deptford children to visit easily. The ideal spot was found in Wrotham, Kent. It provided pre-school and primary children with a holiday retreat and served as a training centre for nursery teachers.

Margaret McMillan House was officially opened on 5 May 1936.

Over the decades, its role evolved – from holiday school to teacher training centre. By the 1960s, the Rachel McMillan Training College had become part of the University of London. In the 1990s, a new charity was established to oversee the property, with the Royal Borough of Greenwich as corporate trustee. After a later chapter as part of an outdoor education trust, the property has now begun yet another phase in its story, with the sale completing in March 2026.