History University of Westminster

1 history

1.1 1837 1881: royal polytechnic institution
1.2 1881 1992: regent street polytechnic / polytechnic of central london
1.3 1992 present: university of westminster

history
1837 1881: royal polytechnic institution

309 regent street, 2012



the interior of polytechnic in 1847, drawn g.f. sargeant

the royal polytechnic institution built william mountford nurse in 1837 , opened @ 309 regent street on 6 august 1838 provide (in words of prospectus of 1837) “an institution public, @ little expense, may acquire practical knowledge of various arts , branches of science connected manufacturers, mining operations , rural economy.”

sir george cayley (1773–1857), father of aeronautical engineering , first chairman , polytechnic formally received royal charter in august 1839. polytechnic housed large exhibition hall, lecture theatre , laboratories, , public attractions included working machines , models, scientific lectures , demonstrations, rides in diving bell and, 1839, demonstrations of photography. prince albert visited institution in 1840, when descended in diving bell, , became patron in 1841. first public photographic portrait studio in europe opened on roof of polytechnic in march 1841.

in 1848, theatre added building, purpose-built accommodate growing audiences polytechnic’s optical shows. these combined magic lantern images live performances, music, ghosts , spectres, illuminated fountains , fireworks in increasingly sophisticated displays, spreading fame of arguably world’s first permanent projection theatre.

‘professor’ john henry pepper joined polytechnic in 1840s. best known today illusion ‘pepper’s ghost’, contribution education deserves recognition. pepper established evening classes in engineering, applied science , technical subjects young working londoners, beginning tradition of widening access education continued university of westminster today.

expansion gradually gave way financial difficulty, reflecting long-standing tension between education , need run successful business. fatal accident on premises in 1859 caused first institution wound , new 1 formed. various regeneration schemes considered, in 1879 fire damaged roof, precipitating final crisis.

1881 1992: regent street polytechnic / polytechnic of central london

in september 1881, royal polytechnic institution closed, marking transition new ownership , new era of educational development. christian philanthropist quintin hogg (1845–1903) acquired lease building in december 1881 £15,000. hogg had established ragged school , boys home in covent garden area of london provide basic education of london’s poorest children. in 1873, established youths christian institute , reading rooms provide educational, religious, sporting , social opportunities young working men. membership fees paid free use of library, social rooms, gymnasium , entertainments members; small additional fee required students technical classes included science , art classes 1878.

the institute moved long acre in 1878 , renamed young men’s christian institute (ymci). following hogg’s purchase of 309 regent street, ymci moved new premises, re-opening on 25 september 1882. 6,000 members , students – 3 times anticipated number – attended during first 1882/3 session. institute gradually adopted name polytechnic young men’s christian institute, or simply, polytechnic, short.

from 1882 expanded programme of classes began, including science, engineering , art classes held in conjunction science , art department (of board of trade), , scheme of technical , trade education, related city , guilds of london institute of technical instruction , london trades council. building housed classrooms, swimming bath, gymnasium, , refreshment room. activities included daily chapels, parliamentary debating, reading circle, music , drama societies , several sports clubs.

by 1888 membership 4,200, in addition 7,300 students, , on 200 classes held weekly concerts, lectures, , annual industrial exhibition. membership open aged between 16 , 25. young women s branch, housed in separate premises in langham place, established.

in 1880s institute attracted favourable attention technical education lobby. following city of london parochial charities act in 1883, became clear funds available endow polytechnic , found , support institutions on same model across london. public appeal launched in 1888 raise required matching funding. scheme finalised under auspices of charity commissioners in 1891, when institute reconstituted polytechnic-regent street (often referred regent street polytechnic), managed newly created governing body.

the quintin school in 1956

in 1886, hogg founded polytechnic day school boys. school has had several names, including polytechnic intermediate day school, polytechnic middle class school , polytechnic secondary school. first official name conferred in 1946 when re-christened quintin school. 1892 school divided 2 virtually separate schools – technical division under charles mitchell , commercial division under david woodhall, separate preparatory division under hobart pritchard. school came prayers , ceremonial occasions, rivalry between 2 divisions culminating in annual sports day each year when took place @ chiswick. during interwar period 2 divisions reunited , under headship of p. a. abbott became rigorously academic on grammar school model, particular strengths in science , maths. during world war 2 school evacuated minehead in somerset under capable headship of dr bernard worsnop. school remained evacuated duration of war , afterwards unable return 309 regent street due lack of space. space problems, 1944 education act, meant change inevitable , discussions began led transfer of governance of school polytechnic london county council. part of transfer, school renamed quintin school , in 1956 relocated st john’s wood. in 1969, school merged neighbour kynaston technical school, becoming quintin kynaston school. in 2001 school became specialist technology college , in november 2011, became academy, changing name quintin kynaston community academy.

towards end of 19th century, polytechnic ran savings bank, labour bureau, school, , arranged holidays members coastal resorts , countryside of uk. in 1888, boys polytechnic secondary school toured belgium , switzerland part of first educational holiday see mountains learning in geography lessons, led formation of polytechnic touring association (pta). 1895 pta had itineraries ireland, scotland, paris , madeira chalets in switzerland , steam yacht toured norwegian fjords. travel company pioneered package holidays europe, including first escorted air tour switzerland in 1932. travel company acquired sir henry lunn ltd. in 1962 , became lunn poly (sold thomson travel international sa in 2000).

the visit of king george v, queen mary, , son edward, prince of wales after rebuilding of polytechnic, 1912

the building @ 309 regent street rebuilt in 1910–1912 reflect needs of growing institution student members exceeded 15,000. pioneering work in emerging professional , commercial disciplines, alongside general interest subjects, hallmark of institution. when hogg died in 1903, succeeded president sir kynaston studd (1858–1944), remained in office until death in 1944, , did continue traditions of founder. 2 major appeals launched support expansion, first rebuilding of 309 regent street in 1910–1912, , second build polytechnic extension building women’s institute in little titchfield street, formally opened in 1929. both buildings continued provide sporting , social facilities members of institute workshops , classrooms students of education department.

the education department provided wide range of courses, rapid expansion of commercial subjects alongside original trade , technical classes. courses ranged post-elementary school entry craft , technical training @ 13 degrees accredited university of london external degrees programme. teaching in evening , part-time, though day classes increased throughout period. following world war 2 there rapid growth in demand further education , training, reorganised following white paper on technical education in 1956.

the variety of levels of work @ regent street meant designated regional college rather college of advanced technology, after governors decided reduce proportion of lower level work. following establishment of council national academic awards (cnaa) in 1964, number of degree courses approved , became operational; including engineering (mechanical, electrical, electronic, civil, building, production), architecture, photography (1966), arts administration (1967), life sciences (1973) , media studies (1975).

in 1960 london county council announced plan turn regent street tri-partite federal college adding new college of architecture , advanced building technology (caabt) , college of engineering , science (ces). existing commercial subjects remain centred on no 309 regent street. caabt allocated luxborough lodge site in marylebone road , ces site in new cavendish street. both schemes suffered prolonged delays , new buildings not finished until 1970. holborn college of law, languages , commerce merged regent street polytechnic form polytechnic of central london (pcl). @ ceremony on 21 may 1971, lord chancellor lord hailsham, grandson , namesake of hogg, opened new buildings , designated new institution. in 1990, harrow college of higher education became part of pcl.

1992 present: university of westminster

the foyer of westminster s headquarters building @ 309 regent street

pcl re-designated university of westminster following higher , further education act (1992), created single funding council, higher education funding council, england , abolished remaining distinctions between polytechnics , universities. newly established university re-dedicated @ westminster abbey on 1 december 1992. university, westminster gained power grant own degrees.

dame mary hogg (great-granddaughter of quintin hogg, founder of regent street polytechnic) awarded honorary doctorate of law (lld) university of westminster in 1995. hogg became part of court of governors @ university, continuing university s close association hogg family.

westminster s efforts in overseas expansion resulted in university being awarded queen s award enterprise in 2000, , again in 2005.

in recent years, university has established westminster business school, institute modern , contemporary culture, centre study of democracy , policy studies institute. in 2002 westminster established westminster international university in tashkent @ invitation of government of uzbekistan.

the university has attracted controversy offering science degrees in subjects not considered scientific. department of herbal medicine , nutritional therapy , department of chinese , complementary therapies, both of based in school of life sciences, offered courses in alternative medicine, , naturopathy criticised in journal nature providing science degrees without science . these departments closed in 2009 , associated courses taken on department of complementary medicines. number of courses offered in these subjects has gradually been reduced, university still offers degrees in traditional chinese medicine, acupuncture , herbal medicine.

in 2013, university celebrated 175 years of research, teaching, , providing education all, regardless of background or financial status. special events organised both @ campuses in uk, , teams around world. celebrations included interfaith service @ westminster abbey on 30 january 2013.

in 2015, in wake of international press attention, university commissioned independent panel chaired lord morgan, provide external , impartial review of policies , procedures relating freedom of speech @ university.