Our History

Although we’ve been teaching since 1921, the Reaseheath estate was passed between families for centuries before becoming a college. In 1919 though, the estate was bought by the Cheshire County Council, who established The Cheshire School of Agriculture – the beginning of Reaseheath College. 

Buildings on campus were adapted as lecture rooms and laboratories while farms, gardens and a poultry department were prepared, to open the School to men students only in 1921. Our Reaseheath Hall, which was constructed mid-18th century, was used as a men’s hostel and as the administrative headquarters at The Cheshire School of Agriculture at the time. 

Shortly after, a new hostel for women students, a dairy department, and new farm buildings were created and officially opened in 1926 by the Duke of Windsor, then Prince of Wales. 

From 1921 to 1939, certificate courses in agriculture, dairying, poultry husbandry and horticulture were offered, and The School provided an advisory service to the agricultural industry. 

In 1939, however, normal education stopped due to the war, and the school was used for training recruits in the Women’s Land Army. By February 1943, over one thousand girls had completed their courses; an achievement which earned royal commendation for Cheshire. Years later, in November 1967, The School of Agriculture became a College, and in 1993 we were formally named Reaseheath College.