The estate at Plumpton College was bought by the County Council in 1919. This was not the first site for agricultural education in East Sussex, prior to this in the early 1890’s a School of Agriculture and Horticulture was established at nearby Uckfield but this closed in 1915. Students at Plumpton originally lived in the farm house and local lodgings, and classrooms were on the farm but by 1926 the College had grown sufficiently to justify the first major build. The College grew steadily between 1926 and 1937 when a major extension was built and the name was changed from the East Sussex Agricultural Institute to the East Sussex School of Agriculture. An extensive network of advice, education and training was established across Sussex.During 2004-2010 considerable expansion of the College took place with a new winery , animal care and workshop facilities and an expansion of the Colleges main building to include new library and further residential accommodation.