Havering College of Further and Higher Education

Havering College of Further and Higher Education is a college founded in 1947 in the London Borough of Havering that provides part-time and full-time education to students aged 14+.

Following the introduction of the Education Act 1944, the Essex Education Committee acquired the majority of the Nelmes Estate in Hornchurch, including Victorian era Ardleigh House and surrounding 15 acres of land.

Ardleigh House was initially used as a community and youth centre, and as a centre for part-time day release courses. The facilities were very basic, confined to upstairs rooms, and allowed only for basic instruction.

Some years later, two additional classrooms with storage space were built, and the local authority Further Education Committee started to plan for an assembly hall and craft workshops for what was then called ‘Ardleigh House Centre for Further Education’.