In The Ground For 125 Years

Writtle University College celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2018 after being established in 1893 as the County Laboratories. Rebecca Hughes speaks to new Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Middleton about the changes of the last 125 years and some exciting plans to come

- Rebecca Hughes

 LOOKING through the photographic archive of Writtle University College, it’s fascinating to see Edwardians in their suits studying horticulture and the land in front of the Main Building gone over to sprouts as it embraced the effort to ‘dig for victory’. The history of this institution, located just outside Chelmsford, spans a remarkable period of time which has witnessed women gaining the vote, two world wars and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. During that time, it has grown a strong reputation and profile, particularly in its founding subjects of horticulture and agriculture, but the University College has since evolved into much more.

A visit to the 220 hectare estate epitomises this. The impressive Main Building nestled in manicured gardens oozes heritage. But over the road on its Lordships Campus are modern science laboratories and a high-tech sports science centre, as well as floristry and design studios. Next to this campus, leading agricultural dealer Crawfords is building a new workshop and sales depot which will give students access to the latest machinery and technology. Just around the corner, building is almost finished on a £1.5million development of an equine campus where all the facilities needed for breeding horses will sit alongside horse rehabilitation resources, such as therapy barns with smart screens, an equine water treadmill and a solarium.

A Canine Therapy Centre, complete with hydrotherapy pool and underwater treadmill, was officially opened in 2017 and is located next to the Titchmarsh Centre for Animal Studies (named after former patron Alan Titchmarsh), which is home to a vast array of exotic, companion and livestock animals.