Studley College

Studley College was a horticultural and agricultural college for women, founded by Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick. In 1898 she had founded Warwick Hostel in Reading to offer training to 'surplus women in the lighter branches of agriculture'. This expanded and moved to Studley Castle in Warwickshire in 1903, becoming Studley Horticultural & Agricultural College for Women. An early student was Adela Pankhurst, and an early Warden in the years before World War I was Dr Lillias Hamilton.

Studley Castle is a mock-mediaeval 'castle' built in 1833. The College students undertook hard practical work in its greenhouses and vegetable gardens.

The College remained an all-women college throughout its existence, closing in 1969. The assets were used to found the Studley College Trust, a charitable trust that awards grants to students of agriculture and horticulture.

Studley Castle has since become a conference centre and wedding venue.

External links

* Searchable resource for photographs of Studley Horticultural College in the early years
* Studley Castle web site, showing the premises as they are today
* Studley College Trust

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