Westfield College
Encyclopedia
Westfield College was a small college situated in Kidderpore Avenue, Hampstead
, London, and was a constituent college of the University of London
from 1882 to 1989. The college originally admitted only women as students and became coeducational in 1964. In 1989, Westfield College merged with Queen Mary College
. The merged institution was named Queen Mary and Westfield College
, still the charter name, though the present branding name is "Queen Mary, University of London".
was Principal of Westfield from 1921-31 and Kathleen Chesney from 1951-62. Until the mid 1980s residences were still segregated.
In the mid-to-late 1980s, the University of London underwent considerable reorganisation, and many smaller colleges were merged. Consequently, Westfield was merged with Queen Mary College
in 1989, forming Queen Mary and Westfield College. Most student accommodation, administrative offices and several academic departments continued to be based at the Hampstead campus until 1992, however, and the College retained its separate identity. The new, combined, College was finally located at Queen Mary's site in Mile End
, East London from 1992 onwards. However, some departments moved to King's College London
and many academic staff moved to other colleges, such as Royal Holloway College
.
The history of the College called "Castle Adamant
in Hampstead", was published in 1983 by Janet Sondheimer.
, respectively. Until 2005, the Old House was home to the London Jewish Cultural Centre.
Since the early 2000s Queen Mary and Westfield College has used the name "Queen Mary, University of London
" for day to day purposes, although the name in its charter has not been amended. The college's student accommodation complex (opened in 2004) is officially named the Westfield Student Village as a reminder of the history of the college.
Moreover, the Westfield Trust Prize, an academic cash prize given to outstanding undergraduate or postgraduates studying at Queen Mary, has been established in memory of the college.
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London, and was a constituent college of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
from 1882 to 1989. The college originally admitted only women as students and became coeducational in 1964. In 1989, Westfield College merged with Queen Mary College
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. The merged institution was named Queen Mary and Westfield College
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, still the charter name, though the present branding name is "Queen Mary, University of London".
History
The College was founded in 1882 by Constance Louisa Maynard (1849-1935) and Ann Dudin Brown (1822-1917), who was the founding benefactress and Council member from 1882-1917. Eleanor Constance LodgeEleanor Constance Lodge
Eleanor Constance Lodge, CBE, was born on 18 September 1869 at Hanley, Staffordshire. She was Vice-Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford from 1890 to 1921 and then Principal of Westfield College, Hampstead, in the University of London from 1921 to 1931...
was Principal of Westfield from 1921-31 and Kathleen Chesney from 1951-62. Until the mid 1980s residences were still segregated.
In the mid-to-late 1980s, the University of London underwent considerable reorganisation, and many smaller colleges were merged. Consequently, Westfield was merged with Queen Mary College
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1989, forming Queen Mary and Westfield College. Most student accommodation, administrative offices and several academic departments continued to be based at the Hampstead campus until 1992, however, and the College retained its separate identity. The new, combined, College was finally located at Queen Mary's site in Mile End
Mile End
Mile End is an area within the East End of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross...
, East London from 1992 onwards. However, some departments moved to King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
and many academic staff moved to other colleges, such as Royal Holloway College
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
.
The history of the College called "Castle Adamant
Princess Ida
Princess Ida; or, Castle Adamant is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was their eighth operatic collaboration of fourteen. Princess Ida opened at the Savoy Theatre on January 5, 1884, for a run of 246 performances...
in Hampstead", was published in 1983 by Janet Sondheimer.
Present day
King's College London took over the former Westfield site, which has been divided up over the years. The majority of the south side of the site (The Queen's Building and other teaching blocks) was demolished in the early 1990s to make way for The Westfield Apartments, a block of luxury private flats. The remainder of the south side (the Caroline Skeel Library, Ellison, Temple, Chesney and Stocks buildings) was used by King's College as student accommodation and as an archive; whilst this part of the site is now for sale, it is still in use. The north side of the site (Queen Mother Hall, Bay House, Old House, Maynard, Lady Chapman, Orchard I and II, Dudin-Brown and Skeel buildings) remains in use as student accommodation, with Orchard I and II renamed for Lord Cameron and Rosalind FranklinRosalind Franklin
Rosalind Elsie Franklin was a British biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer who made critical contributions to the understanding of the fine molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal and graphite...
, respectively. Until 2005, the Old House was home to the London Jewish Cultural Centre.
Since the early 2000s Queen Mary and Westfield College has used the name "Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
" for day to day purposes, although the name in its charter has not been amended. The college's student accommodation complex (opened in 2004) is officially named the Westfield Student Village as a reminder of the history of the college.
Moreover, the Westfield Trust Prize, an academic cash prize given to outstanding undergraduate or postgraduates studying at Queen Mary, has been established in memory of the college.
Alumni
- Author Rhys Bowen (née Janet Lee, married to John Quin-Harkin)
- Author Andrea NewmanAndrea NewmanAndrea Newman is an English author.An only child, mainly brought up by her grandmother, she taught at a grammar school after graduating with a degree in English from London University...
- Author Naomi LewisNaomi LewisNaomi Lewis was a British poet, essayist, literary critic, anthologist and reteller of stories for children. She is particularly noted for her translations of the Danish children's author, Hans Christian Andersen, as well as for her critical reviews and essays.Born in Great Yarmouth to a Latvian...
- BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
journalist Margaret GilmoreMargaret GilmoreMargaret Gilmore is a journalist, broadcaster, writer and analyst. She frequently broadcasts, writes and lectures on security issues and is an Associate Fellow with the lead UK security think tank Royal United Services Institute .... - Immigration solicitor Jane Coker, who lost a sex discrimination case against the Lord Chancellor's DepartmentLord Chancellor's DepartmentThe Lord Chancellor's Department was a United Kingdom government department answerable to the Lord Chancellor with jurisdiction over England and Wales....
- Fascist Nesta WebsterNesta WebsterNesta Helen Webster , was a controversial historian, occultist, and author who revived conspiracy theories about the Illuminati. She argued that the secret society's members were occultists, plotting communist world domination, using the idea of a Jewish cabal, the Masons and Jesuits as a...
(née Nesta Bevan) - Fascist Richard VerrallRichard VerrallRichard Verrall is a former Deputy Chairman of the British National Front , he edited the magazine Spearhead from 1976 to 1980.-National Front career:...
- Karen Morgan Thomas (née Karen Morgan). According to HansardHansardHansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
, mentioned by Denis MacShaneDenis MacShaneDenis MacShane is a British politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Rotherham since the 1994 by-election and served as the Minister for Europe from 2002 until 2005, as well as being a current Policy Council member for Labour Friends of Israel.On 14 October 2010, it was announced...
MP in connection with dealing in Anglia Television shares. Jeffrey Archer's dealing in Anglia Television shares was under investigation at this time. - Chris Mitchell. Professor of Computer Science, Information Security Group, Royal Holloway, University of LondonRoyal Holloway, University of LondonRoyal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
. - Screenwriter Ed WhitmoreEd WhitmoreEd Whitmore is a British screenwriter. He has written for a number of successful British TV series such as Waking the Dead. In 2003 he wrote the Waking The Dead episode Multistory, directed by Robert Bierman, which won the show an Emmy for Best International Drama Series...
- Jan Royall - Labour Politician
- Peter Wild. Professor of Computer Science, Information Security Group, Royal Holloway, University of LondonRoyal Holloway, University of LondonRoyal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
. - Nirmala Rao. Professor Of Politics at Goldsmiths College, University of London
- Guy WaltersGuy WaltersGuy Walters is a British author and journalist.-Life and career:Guy Walters was born in Kensington, London. A descendant of Richard Harris Barham and Edward Augustus Bond, he was educated at Cheam School, Eton College, Westfield College, University of London , and is studying for a PhD in history...
, author - TV presenter Adrian ChilesAdrian ChilesAdrian Chiles is a British television and radio presenter, currently working for ITV Sport presenting football coverage....
- Sky Sports commentator Bryn Law
- Comedian Bill BaileyBill BaileyBill Bailey is an English comedian, musician and actor. As well as his extensive stand-up work, Bailey is well known for his appearances on Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You, and QI.Bailey was listed by The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy in...
- Historian Martyn RadyMartyn RadyMartyn Rady is Professor of Central European History at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies , University College London. He was from 1995 to 2009 Warden of Hughes Parry Hall , an intercollegiate hall of the University of London...