in 1869 robert chignell, who had a private school at westmount, in folkestone road, leased part of the dover priory buildings for a private school. he passed on his interest, however, to a group of leading citizens and local businessmen in dover, led by the mayor of dover, dr. astley, who had formed the dover college company to promote the foundation of a public school for the town on what remained of the priory site with the dual intention of providing a public school education for local boys and of using and thus preserving the priory's remaining ancient buildings.