Wye College

The College of St Gregory and St Martin at Wye
Other name
Wye College
Former name
  • South Eastern Agricultural College
  • Imperial College at Wye
  • Wye Grammar School
Motto
Luce et labore[1]
Motto in English
By enlightenment and work[2]
Active1447–2009
FounderCardinal John Kempe
Location
Wye, Kent, England

51°11′02″N 0°56′20″E / 51.18400°N 0.93893°E / 51.18400; 0.93893

The College of St Gregory and St Martin at Wye, commonly known as Wye College, was an education and research institution in the village of Wye, Kent. In 1447, Cardinal John Kempe founded his chantry there which also educated local children.[3]: 18  As of 2020, it still includes a rare, complete example of medieval chantry college buildings.[4]: 5 

Wye College, 1984

After abolition in 1545, parts of the premises were variously occupied as mansion, grammar school, charity school, infant school and national school, before purchase by Kent and Surrey County Councils to provide men's technical education.[3]: 30, 36, 48, 49, 60  For over a hundred years Wye became the school, then college, of London University most concerned with rural subjects, including agricultural sciences; business management; agriculture; horticulture, and agricultural economics.[5] Chemist and Actonian Prize winner, Louis Wain[6]: 441  developed synthetic auxin selective herbicides 2,4-DB, MCPB and Bromoxynil at Wye in the 1950s[6]: 448–450  alongside his other research into insecticides, plant growth regulators and fungicides.[6]: 451–453  Wain's colleague Gerald Wibberley championed alternative priorities for the college with an early emphasis on land use and the environment.[6]: 454 

Following World War II and a 1947 merger with Swanley Horticultural College for women,[6]: 444  Wye transformed itself from small agricultural college, providing local practical instruction, to university[7]: 488  for a rapidly increasing number[8] of national and international students.[9]: 79  Successive phases of expansion developed the college's campus along Olantigh Road,[4]: 6  Withersdane Hall the country's first post-war, purpose built university hall of residence,[7]: 488  and accumulated an estate of nearly 1,000 acres (400 ha).[10] However, after a difficult 2000 merger with Imperial College and controversial 2005 attempt to build 4,000 houses on its farmland, Imperial College at Wye closed in 2009.[11]: 30, 45, 46, 50 

As of 2010, the pioneering postgraduate distance learning programme created at Wye College continued within SOAS.[11]: 49  Many of the college buildings have been redeveloped, though some are retained for community use or occasional public access.[12]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference agricola was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Luce Et Labore", proz.com, archived from the original on 18 June 2022, retrieved 16 June 2022
  3. ^ a b Wye College Heritage Statement (PDF) (Report). Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 17 July 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022 – via Ashford Borough Council.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference evid was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference dist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference wain was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Whyman, John (1996). "Reviews – Wye College and its World" (PDF). Archaeologia Cantiana. 115: 484–489. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023 – via Kent Archeological Society.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference mcgill was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference churchy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference estate was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference leaver was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference latins was invoked but never defined (see the help page).