John Claudius Loudon’s agricultural 

‘ The sons of landed proprietors took up residence and were under his immediate superintendence. They paid £100 per annum for tuition plus 25 shillings per week for board and lodging. Others, in a second class, were instructed by his bailiff and educated as land stewards. A description of this college, and of the improvements effected at Great Tew, was published in 1809. The title of the pamphlet was: The Utility of Agricultural Knowledge, to the Sons of the Landed Proprietors of England. Mr Loudon greatly enjoyed running the college. He taught in barns, stables, cart-sheds, rick-yards and fields, according to the subject being discussed.’ This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024).

More about Loudon’s college at Great Tew

In the tradition of the Scottish Enlightenment, Loudon’s particular enthusiasm was for applied knowledge. John Claudius Loudon wrote that ‘The sons of landed proprietors, who are ambitious of enjoying the full advantages of their property, are recommended to inform themselves in some degree on rural affairs. This must be regarded as rational advice to all who have lands to let to husbandmen, since it is nothing more than extending a received opinion, that a man who has goods to sell, cannot dispose of them at the highest rate, unless he knows somewhat of their use, as well as the market best suited to appreciate their value. It is true, there are abundance of stewards and agents ready to relieve all young gentlemen from the trouble of looking into their own affairs; and perhaps few who distinguish themselves as public characters, or whose habits sympathise with the prevailing taste of society, can totally dispense with their services; but certainly it is the first duty of every man to inform himself so far, respecting that species of property whence arises his income, as to discern when the agents who manage it, do their duty. In fact, we find this universally practised, in a greater or lesser degree. If all men, therefore, find it useful to know something of their estates, I may reasonably hope there are a few who will coincide in my opinion, that to know a good deal would be proportionably advantageous.’