By 1988 Britain had witnessed some major healthcare overhauls, and facilities like Crossley were fast becoming surplus to requirements. The fate of Crossley seemed very uncertain with increasing talk of closure and demolition.

Later that year, a local educationist named Kenneth Taylor submitted a proposal to lease the hospital complex and open a full scale boarding school on the site - the plans were passed, and Crossley, quite literally, was saved.

Kenneth Taylor, a former honours graduate of the University of Lancaster put forward his vision for what became known as Kingswood College: "The prime function of Kingswood is to provide a sound education based on firm principles, in a caring community where individuality can develop, in which the pupil's personality can find expression and in which individual potential can be achieved."

To begin with, Kingswood College only occupied the 'female' wing of the main hospital building. A small nursery was created on the ground floor of the main building, and various parts of the hospital were modernised to create a more accommodating environment. The nurses accommodation was used as the administrative centre and staff quarters - the remaining ancillary buildings were left empty.

It was proposed that the college would eventually be able to cater for upto 400 hundred pupils, from babies to sixth form level.

However, after only three years of use, the bourdon of running such a vast complex finally took it's toll financially, and consequently continued funding problems forced Kingswood College to close prematurely. It's doors closed for the final time in late 1991.

Whether Kingswood College was a success or a failure is irrelevant. Kenneth Taylor's vision and determination saved the Crossley complex. Not only did Kenneth Taylor show that Crossley could serve as something other than a hospital, he also stifled the mounting calls for the building's demolition - this bought valuable time - the building was finally given Grade 2 listed status in 2000 - meaning that, whatever the use, the building would remain standing - as a testament to those who believed in it.