The College is based around the Bretton Hall mansion house and is set in 500 acres (2 kmē) of lakes and parkland. Its facilities include a library, public computers for students and an student union bar.
It was founded by Sir Alec Clegg in 1949 as an independent training college for teachers of the arts but became most widely known for its course in design, music and the visual and performance arts. Its alumni include Kay Mellor, Mark Thomas and three of out four of the League of Gentlemen creators/performers, Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton.
In August 2001, it formally merged with the University of Leeds. The University moved the majority of the music, fine art and teaching courses to the main campus but visual and performance arts education remain at Bretton Hall.
In December 2004, financial pressures forced the University's governing body (Council) to decide to close the Bretton campus (along with the University's other satellite site in Wakefield). Activities currently at Bretton will be moved to the main University campus in the summer of 2007 (allowing all current Bretton-based students to complete their studies there).
External links
[University of Leeds press release on the proposed closure of Bretton Hall Campus (http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/press_releases/current/bretton_dec04.htm)]
BrettonHall is a stately home in West Bretton in the county of West Yorkshire, England, near Wakefield.
The College found itself in financial difficulties, and, with the support of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), it merged with the University of Leeds in August 2001.
In June 2006 it was annunced that BrettonHall was to be sold to Wakefield Council.
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