• In 1856 the foundation stone was laid.
• In 1859 it was completed.
• In 1864 it opened as St Peter's College.
• In 1914 it closed as the men's training college.
• In October 1921 it re-opened as a Women's Teacher Training College.
• In 1938 it closed.
• During World War 2, the college was used by the American Red Cross and an American Service Club.
• After the war, in March 1946, it opened as a Emergency Training College for Men.
• In 1949 it became a mixed college.
• It closed in 1950.
• In 1952 it was bough by Perkins Engines and converted into offices, its name was also changed to 'Peterscourt'
• Perkins Engines occupied the building until 1967.
• From 1968 to 1975 the Peterborough Development Corporation occupied it.
• Between 1984 and 1986 the building was refurbished and restored.
• It is currently used as an office block and is occupied by Opportunity Peterborough and other organisations.

Architecture:

Designed by the famous Sir George Gilbert Scott, he was enthusiastic about reviving the Gothic style in this building. It is red brick and decorated occasionally with patterns in a blue-black brick, which are most noticeable above the principal windows at the rear.

One of the main features of the building is the tall Tudor-style chimneystack. Another important feature is the 17th century main doorway, which was originally from the Guildhall in London. It has carved Corinthian pilasters on either side and foliage and an elaborate entablature above.

There is a tall iron gateway and railings outside the entrance and set in the wall is a milestone that reads 'London 79 by Huntingdon, Thorney 7'; this used to be in the wall along City Road. When Perkins purchased the building they re-roofed it and put the name above the doorway. It is an example of excellent Victorian architecture.

In 1984-1986 when it was restored, the additions that were made to the building in the 1950's were removed and the main entrance was moved from the northern side to the western end and a new Gothic porch was built to contain the doorway from the Guildhall in London. The interior was fully refurbished into modern day office space and there is no evidence of what is used to look like inside when it was the college.

Social History :

When the Guildhall was severely damaged during the London blitz of 1940, the doorway was rescued and the late Frank Perkins arranged for it to be fixed in Peterscourt in 1953.

Dr. Davys, Bishop of Peterborough at the time gave an acre of land for the site and the Dean and Chapter sold another at a nominal fee. These two areas formed the site on which the building was erected. The college was founded under the combined sponsorship of the Dioceses of Lincoln, Ely and Peterborough, for the training of teachers for Church of England Schools. The principals were Rev. Charles Daymond (1859-1892) and Rev. Thomas Ward (1892-1915). On average 25 students were taken on each year to complete a 2 year course, and prior to it closing in 1915 roughly 1,300 pupils had passed through the college.

When it re-opened in 1921 as a women's college the intake was much larger and extra accommodation had to be found. The Vineyard and Deanery were converted into college accommodation. The only principal was Miss Henrietta Leonora Rowell who served there until it closed. Until 1986 the former students of the Women's training college had an annual reunion and service in the Cathedral, they also wrote a book called the 'St Peters College Fellowship, 1923 - 1975' in which they recorded their memories of college life.

When it re-opened as an Emergency Training College for returning servicemen, WFF Shearcroft, who was previously the acting head of Kings School, was the principal of the college and the first session consisted of about 200 men. Almost all of them were straight from the services and some even still wore their uniform for a short time, it was a case of trail and error where the teaching a provisions were concerned.