Easthampstead Park - College and School

College and School

After the War, Easthampstead Park was sold to Berkshire County Council. After repairs following a fire in 1949, a training college for women teachers was opened, the mansion was altered and extended, and a new gymnasium and study block, now known as the Whitfield building was erected. Several new tennis courts were built or renovated, but one at the edge of the park is sadly now derelict. The mansion was well used by the girls, who for example, held a delightful Christmas Party in the well of the main staircase every year during the life of the college. There was an excellent library situated behind the main hall, and the students developed their own garden near to one of the tennis courts. During the period, the gardens were kept in good condition, with a thriving vegetable garden near to the present school. Dances were organised regularly in the main hall.

In 1968, Easthampstead Park College was amalgamated with Bulmershe College to form the Berkshire College of Education. The last students training to teach were withdrawn from Easthampstead Park in 1972, when an Educational Centre was opened, initially comprising an adult residential college and Easthampstead Park School.

In 1984 SEBEV Search and Rescue moved into the basement area of the mansion which was already being used as a government nuclear fallout shelter. SEBEV SAR is still there to this day.

In 1995, Easthampstead Park School relocated to a new location nearby and the mansion is now used as Easthampstead Park Conference Centre and Bracknell Forest Education Centre. Inside the mansion, rooms are named after the Trumbull, Sandys, Hill and Downshire families and their estates, as well as former staff of the college, such as Wylie and Lewis.