Lady Warwick's Horticultural & Agricultural College for Women (UK)

Evangeline Holland's post on Lady Warwick's Horticultural & Agricultural College for Women offers a description of the institution along with links to photographs and other resources.

In 1897, Frances Evelyn, Countess of Warwick published a scheme for training women in agriculture.  She proposed the creation of an Agricultural Training College for Women and the establishment of Women's Agricultural Settlements in different parts of the country. Lady Warwick soon rented Coleyhurst, a spacious house in Bath Road, Reading, UK and a program of study was offered in association with Reading College.  The institution was known initially as the Lady Warwick Hostel and was independent after 1902. Lady Warwick bought Studley Castle in Warwickshire in December 1903 and the name of the institution was changed to Lady Warwick College.  In 1908 the name was changed again to Studley College and Lady Warwick ceased to be responsible for its support.  In 1926 the College received official recognition as a training institution from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.  Then in 1967, acting on the recommendation of the Pilkington Report of 1966 on agricultural education, the Government decided to withdraw its grant and the College closed in 1969. Records of the institution are available through the UK National Archives.

Anne Meredith's article from the Spring, 2003 issue of Garden History, "Horticultural Education in England, 1900-40: Middle-Class Women and Private Gardening Schools," is available through JSTOR.