Edge Hill University

Edge Hill University stands on a 160-acre campus in Ormskirk, a market town in West Lancashire. The university began in 1885 as Edge Hill College, the first non-denominational teacher training college for women in England. It moved to Ormskirk in 1931 when the Lancashire Education Committee took over. The campus grew from a main education block and four halls of residence to a modern university with specialist buildings. Edge Hill admitted its first male students in 1959 and became a university in 2006. Today it has three faculties and a strong reputation in education, health and the arts. The university is known for its recent developments and notable figures. The Tech Hub opened in 2016 with entrepreneur Sir Robin Saxby in attendance. The Sports Centre opened in 2015 with Olympic heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson present. The Arts Centre houses the Performing Arts Department and two theatres, opened by screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce. The Catalyst building replaced the old library in 2018, offering 8,000 square metres of study space. The Student Hub, opened in 2011, serves as a central area for students and the Students’ Union. Visitors find a well-organised campus with modern facilities. The Faculty of Education, Health and Social Care, and Business School each have their own buildings. The Wilson Centre provides sports and physical activity spaces. Halls of residence carry names linked to the university’s history and notable people. Chancellors Court and Palatine Court add recent accommodation. The campus lies midway between Liverpool and Preston, making it easy to reach. Green spaces and purpose-built structures blend with the town’s character.