History of Agricultural Education in Wiltshire - Lackham Countryside ...

(d) There should be a suitably trained Inspectorate.
(e) Support should be given to the Young Farmers' Club Movement
as stated in "Service of Youth".
The report was distributed to all local Authorities and the Wiltshire County
Council decided that the time had arrived to establish a Farm Institute in
the County for young people. In 1945, the County Council appointed the
following small Sub-Committee to find a suitable site:-
Alderman R Stratton Chairman
Alderman A W Case Organiser, Agricultural Workers' Union for
Wiltshire
Mr G W Olive Headmaster, Dauntseys School
Mr 0 M Peall Farmer and President of County Y.F.C.
Federation
Alderman C W Whatley Farmer and member of the Agricultural
Executive Committee
Mr W T Price Chief Agricultural Executive Officer
After many inspections and much discussion, they finally decided to
purchase the Lackham Estate of 600 acres from Major Holt for the sum of
£42,600. During the latter part of the War, Lackham House and stables
were occupied by the 'American forces and it is understood that the deal
was made in a cottage near the stable yard (now the Vice Principal's House).
An old servant who had worked on the estate all his life spoke of visits by
Generals Patton and Eisenhower and how, immediately after 'D' Day, "the
whole place became calm and desolate". [i]
The Estate consisted of 600 acres, including 60 acres of woodland, Lackham
House and gardens, stables, 23 cottages and five sets of farm buildings at
Home Farm, Naish Hill, Notton, Cuckoo Bush and Biddestone Lane. Home
Farm, Cuckoo Bush, Biddestone Lane and woodland were purchased with
vacant possession. Notton Farm and Naish Hill were let off to tenants.
Changes later took place which finally increased the size of the College farm
to 450 acres, together with approximately 50 acres of woodland and gardens.
These changes are shown on Maps 1 to 6 in photograph album. 1
Soon after the purchase of Lackham by the County Council in 1945, it was
decided to lease the Estate to the Ministry of Agriculture for a period of not
more than five years for use as a training centre under the Government's
1 Held at Wiltshire College Lackham (TP)