Fancy Living In A Cotswolds Private School?

One look at this beautiful mansion would cause anyone to stop in their tracks. Boasting its own park, several houses and smaller cottages, Rendcomb Park is one of the hottest properties for sale in the Cotswolds. A former private school, with plenty of potential, this historic estate is now on the market for £20m-£30m. 

Discover Rendcomb Park

Standing at 32,000 sq ft, Rendcomb Park enjoys southerly views across the surrounding Cotswold landscape. But this Grade II* listed building is just the beginning. The total accomodation comes to 191,000 sq ft, including teaching and boarding facilities, a French Renaissance-style stable block, and an Old Rectory. 

As Emma Cleugh of Knight Frank says: ‘Opportunities to acquire an estate of this scale and stature in the heart of the Cotswolds are exceptionally rare. The breadth of accommodation, combined with the estate’s private parkland setting, creates significant potential for future evolution. The property has historically operated as a co-educational day and boarding school and will be offered with vacant possession following its sale.’

The History

The massive property has stood in the Churn Valley for centuries, with ownership passing through the hands of multiple prominent families. Predating the Norman Conquest, the land was established as an estate village; historical records show that Robert de la Mare owned Redcomb Manor as far back as the 12th century. When the estate was sold to Reading MP Sir Francis Goldsmid in 1864, he recruited architect Philip Hardwick to replace the 17th century mansion with the current property.

Frederick Noel Hamilton Wills then acquired Rendcomb Park in 1918 with the intent to build Rendcomb College as a school for children of all backgrounds. Opened in 1920 and closed in July 2026, the schools taught thousands of children for over a century. After much review, Rendcomb College closed after a combination of financial and operational challenges led to the college being no longer financially sustainable. Proceeds from the sale of the property will go to Farmington Trust, a UK educational charity founded in 1964.

Nicholas Wills of The Wills Family said: ‘When my great-grandfather, Noel Wills, chose Rendcomb Park as a suitable site to found a school, he was immediately struck by the quality of the architecture set within the beautiful park landscape. He knew it would provide the ideal base to realise his vision to create excellent educational opportunities for Gloucestershire children, regardless of their means. The family has remained committed to this value and while there is sadly a move away from these stunning premises after 106 years, the sale is the starting point for a renewed energy to continue his educational philanthropy into the future.’

Step Inside

Now frozen in time, lesson plans remain on the whiteboards, schedules still line the noticeboards, and mugs are still laid out on in the teachers’ lounge. Purpose-built educational facilities remain, spanning five houses, five boarding houses, seven cottages, a stable block, mordern dormitories, a squash court, an old post office, an Old Rectory, and a £3.3m theatre that opened in 2017. Inside the central property: a five-storey tower, stained glass windows, ornate friezes, intricate cornices and Corinthian columns. Sitting on 230 acres, the grounds feature formal gardens, woodland, tennis courts, a cricket pitch, a rugby field, a deer park, and a walled garden. The estate is set to host a variety of private or commercial uses, with potential to transform it into a hotel, wellness retreat, residential development opportunity, or to continue its history as an educational facility.

Where Is It?

Rendcomb Park is in Gloucestershire, between Cheltenham and Cirencester, within easy commute of iconic Cotswold villages.

Rendcomb Park is on the market for £20m. Find out more at knightfrank.co.uk