Our Beautiful Setting
Abbey Gate College is located across two rural sites – the Senior School & Sixth Form at the picturesque and historic Saighton Grange near Chester, and the Infant & Junior School just two miles away in the village of Aldford, a pretty village in lovely surroundings.
Saighton Grange, a Grade I listed manor house, is set in over 20 acres of breathtakingly beautiful formal gardens, designed by Harry Inigo Triggs in 1901 for the second Duke of Westminster. They were redesigned for the fourth Duchess of Westminster during the 1960s by James Russell, famous for work at Castle Howard. From an amazing spring time display of daffodils and magnolia blossom, through to stunning autumn colours, the gardens delight students, staff and visitors all year round.
Nature’s wonderful setting for our Senior School not only supports the College’s daily ethos and context of Wellbeing, but also promotes real-world sustainability principles and practices, for students and staff, not least through our thriving gardening and harvesting clubs.
The leafy grounds at Abbey Gate College Infant & Junior School provide a nurturing space for students to learn, grow in confidence and relax. Our popular outdoor classroom, named ‘Nature’s Nursery’, connects students to nature by providing rich learning experiences. It has an adventure trail, a dipping pond and an insect hotel, which help our younger students develop skills and resilience in a safe environment.
