Overview

The Royal Naval Engineering College was a specialist establishment for the training of Royal Navy engineers. It was founded as Keyham College, Plymouth in 1880, new buildings were opened in Manadon, Plymouth in 1940. Plans were announced in 1937 to move the college to Manadon, and the new college opened in May 1940 at the manor house, expanding rapidly during the Second World War. By 1945 there were several new permanent and temporary buildings on the site, and the original manor house was being used for staff accommodation. The old college site at Keyham closed in 1958. The college was renamed HMS Thunderer in 1946, and closed in 1995.