On 21 October 1909 West Dean House was chosen as the location in
which HRH Edward VII opened, by remote control, the
Royal Edward Institute for Tuberculosis in Montreal, Canada. As
reported in the newspapers of the day, the King walked out of the
Dining Room and pressed what looked like a bell-push. This sent an
'electric spark' transmitted from West Dean to Montreal where the
opening ceremony was being held. When the current reached the
Institute the doors of the building flew open. As the crowd entered
the building all of the electric lights were switched on and the
Union Jack was run up the flag pole. There is an alabaster plaque
at the top of the marble stairs at West Dean House commemorating
this event. The earliest reference to West Dean is in the Domesday Book (1086).
In 1964 Edward James conveyed his family mansion and 6,400 acre
estate to the charitable trust The Edward James Foundation. The
Grade II* Listed house is now home to the college internationally
renowned for conservation and creative arts.