The Asylum’s first home was in Grange Road, Bermondsey, which opened in 1792 when Rev. Townsend became familiar with the difficulty of a deaf child within his parish who was sent by his parents to the privately run Thomas Braidwood’s Academy for the Deaf in Edinburgh. He was struck by the boy’s keen intellect and agreed with the boy’s mother, Mrs Creasey, there was a need for a charitable institution in London for the education of the deaf. With the support of Mason and Thornton, he opened the Asylum at a time when the educational needs of the deaf were largely ignored.  When the school opened there were six pupils whose number increased twice yearly as more pupils were selected by the Committee of Governors of the Asylum.  Candidates were between the ages of six and twelve years of age and of “sound mind”.  

Yet the numbers on the waiting list still kept growing and it was only possible to admit half of the candidates. It was clear larger premises were required and Rev. Thornton launched a subscription for a new building. The patronage of the Duke of Gloucester was gained and he laid the foundation stone of the new building in 1807.  The building was completed two years later and able to accommodate 200 pupils.  The scope of the education received was to evolve from the teaching of religious instruction and a basic educational groundwork through to equipping pupils with a means by which to earn their living independently upon completion of their education.  To this end, pupils received training in trades such as mechanics and design, and in some cases apprenticeships were paid for.