She was educated at home until she was 15 and then two years at St John's School in Withdean, now part of Brighton, East Sussex.
Withdean is referenced in the chapter "The Wiseman of Withdean" of the fantasy novel The Brightonomicon.
It is a northern suburb of the city, west of Patcham, the A23 (London Road) and the London to Brighton railway line, north of Withdean and northeast of West Blatchington.