New Buildings

In April 2006 planning permission and Listed Building Consent was given for the construction of a new dining hall and a swimming pool in the walled garden. Permission was also granted for internal alterations to the Mansion building once vacated by the kitchen and dining facilities. The completion of this work will mark the culmination of the original plans for Somerhill. It is the biggest project – apart from the actual purchase of Somerhill in 1989 – that will have been undertaken.

The development will allow us to function far more effectively within the mansion and provide us with a much needed facility. It is hoped that we will have contractors on site in January 2007 to begin the digging necessary to "sink" the pool and dining hall within the walled garden, largely hidden from view.

Pictures of the project as it gets underway are being posted on this site.

Update: April 08 

You will have seen having returned from the Easter holdiays that the building has risen with the Glu Lam roofing to the pool being complete and the Spectators' Gallery taking shape. The extent of the dining room is now visible with the internal safety scaffolding coming down. All we need now is for the sun to keep shining on the proposed deck outside. Accent Catering have made a positive impact since they took over at the start of the term in the mansion and this will be even more noticeable when we move to our new dining facilities in September.

Diane M. Huntingford, Bursar