Founded in 1884 by the Bible Christian movement, Edgehill was one of a number of independent schools owned by the Methodist Church of Great Britain and was sister-school to nearby Shebbear College.

The competitive houses participated in sporting events as well as three annual inter-house festivals in drama, music, and poetry and public speaking.

In 1994 the college open-air swimming pool was found to be structurally dangerous and slowly sliding down the hill it was located on.

Further issues with obtaining sufficient water slowed down the efforts of the local fire brigade, meaning that the entire building was completely burnt out in the ensuing inferno.

The move was triggered by a fall in pupil numbers in both schools since education reforms in 1997, and by difficult economic circumstances both locally and nationally.