Dene House & Dene Park

Sale of Dene House to Nazarene College and building of Dene Park, 1980s

Major Raffles, the owner of Dene House, a property on Dene Road adjacent to the Nazarene Theological College, was granted planning permission to develop the grounds as a housing estate. Hugh Rae, of the NTC, was one day talking to this neighbour, Major Raffles, about the development and asked him what was to happen to Dene House itself. The Major observed that it would be sold: the asking price was to be £150,000, but, he suggested, it might be available to old friends for £140,000. The NTC was actively looking into the possibility of expanding its facilities and this seemed an opportunity not to be missed.

The location of Dene House meant that the NTC could expand their central campus by joining both properties. Although the college’s finances were stretched to the limit, another building was needed for a library, and this opportunity might never come again once the property was sold. The college managed to obtain a loan and so, in 1986, Dene House became the property of Brish Isles Nazarene College.

Once acquired, Dene House was refurbished at no small expense but the additional facility became an important focal point for students.

Dene Park, late 1980s

The land belonging to Major Raffles was used for the construction of the mock Tudor houses on Dene Park, at the far end of which Major and Mrs Raffles relocated to a penthouse in Dene Manor overlooking Withington golf course.

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