Ardingly College

Ardingly College stands on a 420-acre estate in West Sussex, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Founded in 1858 as St Saviour’s College by Canon Nathaniel Woodard, it moved to its present site in 1870. The school began as a boys’ boarding school and became fully co-educational in 1982. It belongs to the Woodard Corporation and maintains an Anglo-Catholic tradition. The chapel, built in Gothic Revival style, was laid in 1864 and remains a focal point of the campus. The college played a notable role in 20th-century conflicts, with around 1,200 pupils serving in the First World War and 146 losing their lives. Their names are recorded on the war memorial in the chapel. Eighty-eight Old Ardinians died in the Second World War, their names kept in a book of remembrance. The Combined Cadet Force, established in 1902, offers military and adventure training across six sections. The school also competes in the World Solar Challenge, with students designing and racing solar-powered cars. Visitors find a mix of historic and modern buildings set among rolling grounds. The chapel’s stained glass and bell tower dominate the skyline, while the Centenary Building houses the cricket pavilion and a meeting room. The estate includes playing fields, woodlands and a lodge for Old Ardinians. Fossils dating back 140 million years have been discovered during construction work. The school’s history is reflected in its architecture and memorials, offering a quiet insight into its past.