History of Easton College
Easton College has been providing training to meet the needs of the agriculture sector in Norfolk for almost three-quarters of a Century.
Timeline
1951 – Opened as the Norfolk School of Agriculture following the purchase of the farms in 1949.
1953 – The first purpose-built buildings, the Garnett Building (named after the first Principal) and Alston Hall, were opened.
1966 & 1969 – Further residential accommodation, Hudson and Rayns Halls, were built.
1974 – The College merged with the older Horticultural College at Burlingham (established in 1920) and the Extra Mural Department of the County Council to become the Norfolk College of Agriculture and Horticulture.
1991 – The name of the college was changed to Easton College to reflect the broader curriculum that was by then being taught.
1993 – The college became an independent institution leaving the County Council’s control.
1998 – The Sports and Conference Centre was opened following an appeal to landowners and farmers in Norfolk and support from Sport England and others.
2003 – 50 years after the opening of the original teaching building, the first phase of a new teaching building was completed and named the Jubilee Building.
2005 – Easton College commences partnership with UEA.
2006 – The second phase of the Jubilee Building was completed.
2009 – The Tennis Centre, Bradley Hall, and the Sir Nicholas Bacon Centre were all opened.
2010 – The final phase of the Jubilee Building was opened and the Centre for Contemporary Agriculture, a joint venture with the UEA, was launched.
2012 – Easton College and Otley College merged to form Easton & Otley College.
2013 – The Michael Gamble Centre for Animal Science and Welfare was opened.
2015 – The David Lawrence Construction Skills Centre was opened.
2020 – De-merger of Easton & Otley College, with the Easton campus once again being named Easton College as part of its merger with City College Norwich.