Wales Farm, Plumpton
100 Years Ago
Sussex Express, 11th July 1924
FARM INSTITUTE FOR EAST SUSSEX
PURCHASE OF WALES FARM, PLUMPTON
The East Sussex Agricultural Committee at their meeting to-day (Friday), the County Hall, Lewes, had under consideration the recommendation of the Agricultural Education Sub-Committee that Wales Farm, Plumpton, which has been in the occupation of the Committee for some time, be purchased and that a farm institute be established.
In the first instance the Sub-Committee inspected Oakwood Farm, Streat, and Barkham Manor Farm, Fletching, but did not consider the latter farm suitable for a farm institute. As regarded Oakwood Farm, Streat, they instructed the Director of Agriculture (Mr. R. H. B. Jesse) to make further inquiries and in the course of his report stated that Mr. W. Montgomery had expressed his willingness to quit the farm at Michaelmas next, but only on the basis of compensation for disturbance.
Mr. Austin Taylor, the Small Holdings Architect visited Oakwood Farm, and considered that to adapt it as a farm institute would cost £7,100, so that with the cost of the farm, £7,250, and the cost of putting the farm into good husband-like condition, £900, would mean that the total capital expenditure on the farm institute would be £15,250.
As regards the tenancy of the farm. Mr. Jesse says: The position as regards Wales Farm (now that Mr. Wells has signed the agreement) is somewhat different to what it was before, as the Committee cannot be disturbed until Michaelmas, 1925, and it more than probable that with the tenant right valuation on Wales Farm, and the sum which the Committee would claim for disturbance, there exists almost complete security of tenure. One advantage of continuing Wales Farm for a time is that the farm has been now brought into “good heart and condition” and if conditions keep about as they are now, the farm should be a paying proposition, which Oakwood Farm, Streat, cannot be for several years.
The great disadvantages of Wades Farm are the very poor buildings which necessitates much extra labour, the difficulty of obtaining materials for repairs carried out. and the lack of cottages which go with, the farm.
The Agricultural Education Sub-Committee stated that, after careful consideration, they were of the opinion that if Wales Farm could be purchased at a reasonable figure, which they were given to understand might be possible, it would be much more desirable, in view of the great amount of work done there and the improvement in the state of the farm as compared with Oakwood Farm.
The Sub-Committee were also of opinion that Wales Farm could adapted for the purposes of farm institute at a cost approximately the same as that estimated in the case of Oakwood Farm. The Sub-Committee instructed the Director of Agriculture to approach Mr. Wells, the owner of Wales Farm, and ascertain if he was prepared to accept a reasonable price for the farm.
The result of this interview is the recommendation to purchase the farm and establish a farm institute. The Director of Agriculture says: As there would be reduced expenditure in other directions in connection with agricultural education, it would be desirable that as far as possible tuition and residence should be free to residents in the Administrative County of East Sussex, but that in the case of residents outside the administrative area fees should be charged, so that no cost falls on the county.
County students under Course A might be charged such proportion as the ‘Agricultural Education Committee may consider desirable.
SOME BACKGROUND
In May 1894 the County Council established an Agricultural and Horticultural College and Training Farm on the west side of the road at New Town, Uckfield, which was run by the Technical Instruction Committee until 1903, when the Agricultural Education sub-committee of the Education Committee took control; During the First World War many of its students joined the forces, the buildings were requisitioned and the sub-committee recommended closure. The Uckfield college closed in 1915 and was sold in 1917.
The County Agricultural Committee and a subsequent conference of interested parties recommended the establishment of a new farm institute to serve both East and West Sussex in 1917; it was felt necessary to encourage the production of home-grown food at a time when the submarine was threatening imports.
East Sussex County Council took a five-year lease of the 340a Wales Farm, Plumpton, from the Chichester Estate in 1919; the freehold was purchased in 1924. The only buildings were the farm house and its set of old buildings, the Flint Cottage on the Offham-Ditchling road, and the Moat Barn.
The first intake of students was on 18 October 1926, and RHB Jesse was the first principal. The institute was opened by the Minister of Agriculture in July 1927.