HISTORY

Rendcomb College was founded and generously endowed in 1920 by Mr. F. N. H.Wills, of Misarden Park, Stroud, the first Chairman of the Governing Body. His aim was to provide a boarding school education of a modified public school type for boys from primary schools in rural Gloucestershire.

The College is ten miles from Cheltenham and five miles from Cirencester and lies half a mile off the main road between the two towns. It is situated on a hillside over-looking the River Churn, at a height of 600 feet above sea level and is surrounded by some of the most interesting and attractive Cotswold country, which the pupils are encouraged to appreciate and explore.

History and Development of the Buildings and Grounds

The College buildings consist of a large mansion built in 1865 by the Goldsmith family  and designed by the well known architect Philip Hardwick.   The Stable Block which is now the centre of Science, Maths, Languages, ICT and Geography teaching in the College, the Old Rectory and the Art & Design and Music Block. A new wing was added to the main building in 1963 providing studies, study-bedrooms and classrooms, so that senior boys have their own individual rooms. The College owns some 200 acres of land including the Park through which the River Churn flows from a lake near the northern boundary.  Some 100 feet above the College, at a poin tfrom which a magnificent view is obtained, ten acres of the park containing ample sports pitches has been leveled and enclosed. There are several tennis courts close to the house and two hard courts presented to the College by Major David Wills in 1963. There is also a fine open air swimming bath next to the College buildings, presented in 1961 by the Dulverton Trust and Major David Wills.

In September, 1966, the Old Rectory was opened as a junior House, after big alterations and additions. It is a self-contained unit where boys in Forms I and II and some boys in Form III live, apart from their meals which they take in the main College Dining Hall.
In September, 1967, a new Arts Block, built in Cotswold stone, was opened. It contains a well-equipped Wood and Metal Work-shop, an Art Room, a Craft Room, a Pottery and Kiln, a Music Room, several Music practice rooms as well as some Classrooms and Society rooms.

History of Rendcomb Parish and Manor

Rendcomb, was named after the coomb or three sided valley near the hamlet. It was isolated on the east bank of the Churn until 1824 when a road link was built across the river. Previously it only had a link to the White Way to the east. Rendcomb Park was established in 1544 and by 1676 held 250 acres.

In 1086 two estates at Rendcomb were owned by Gilbert, son of Turold. 5 hides had formerly belonged to Aluric and 3 to Walter, his son-in-law. These estates passed to the earls of Gloucester by the late 12th century, and were subsequently sublet to the De La Mare family. In 1255 Earl Richard de Clare reserved 2 plowlands for himself. That land became Rendcomb manor. From 1387 until 1503 the manor was held by Thomas and Robert De La Mare and their descendants. In 1503 Edmund Tame of Fairford obtained it and by marriage it passed to the Staffords in 1547. Richard Berkely of Stoke Gifford obtained it in 1564. The Guises purchased it in 1635 but a Berkely continued to live there until after 1661. During the period when the Berkely family held it Elizabeth I visited (1592). Sir Thomas Roe lived at Rendcomb during the time his mother Dame Eleanor Berkely owned the Manor (1608). As a rule the Berkely family were only visitors. The De La Mares and the Tames lived at the manor. The Guises built a new house there.