The first Lord Northbourne (Great, great grandfather of the current Lord Northbourne) bought the Betteshanger Estate in 1832. He employed the well-known country house architect, George Devey,  to remodel the main building and the work was completed in 1845. He also rebuilt the church which had fallen into disrepair. Later, at about the turn of the century, additions were made to the North West end of the house. The present Lord Northbourne's parents decided not to live at Betteshanger and they let the house to a new preparatory school.

Lord Northbourne was one of the first five pupils when it opened in 1936. We are delighted that Lord Northbourne and his family remain very closely linked to the school.