City and Guilds of London Institute

The City and Guilds of London Institute was constituted in 1878 following negotiations between representatives of the City Corporation and of several of the livery companies of London who were called together by the Lord Mayor of London from as early as 1872 (for minutes of these meetings see Ms 22000) to consider the promotion and improvement of technical education both in London and nationally. However, although certain individual livery companies took unilateral action to promote specific technological projects, it was not until 1877 that a provisional general committee of livery company members was appointed, together with an executive committee, to prepare a scheme for a national system of technical education with the advice of men eminent in the fields of education and industry.

In 1878, the executive committee recommended the establishment of a central institution for advanced instruction and research in science and technology, the development of local trade schools, the provision of examinations in technical subjects to encourage the spread of technical instruction throughout the country and the grant of financial aid to existing institutions holding classes in relevant subjects.

These recommendations were implemented as follows:

1) TECHNICAL EXAMINATIONS: The examinations in technical subjects previously organised by the Society of Arts since 1873 were taken over and extended by the Institute under the aegis of the Examinations Department, renamed the Department of Technology in 1902.

2) FINSBURY TECHNICAL COLLEGE: In 1879 the Institute established evening classes in applied chemistry and physics in rooms rented from the Middle Class School in Cowper Street, Finsbury (also known as the Cowper Street schools). The success of these classes necessitated the erection of a new building, which was formally opened in 1883 as Finsbury Technical College. It acted as a prototype for technical institutes throughout the country, providing day and evening classes in technical subjects until its closure in 1926. From 1921 to 1926 it was managed by a delegacy appointed by the Institute.

3) SOUTH LONDON TECHNICAL ART SCHOOL: South London Technical Art School began as an extension of Lambeth Art School in Kennington Park Road, which had been founded in 1854. In 1878, the Institute leased nos. 122 and 124 Kennington Park Road, to which it added additional studios, and established classes in applied art. The art school was renamed the Kennington and Lambeth Art School in 1933 and the City and Guilds Art School in 1937. Additional premises were purchased at 118 and 120 Kennington Park Road in 1933. Administrative and financial control of the Art School was transferred to a charitable trust company, the City and Guilds of London Art School Ltd, in 1971.

4) THE CENTRAL INSTITUTION: The Central Institution was formally opened in 1884 in Exhibition Road, South Kensington, on land leased from the Commissioners of the exhibition of 1851, following considerable dispute concerning its possible location. It was renamed the Central Technical College in 1893 and the City and Guilds College in 1911. In 1907 a government departmental committee appointed by the Board of Education proposed the establishment at South Kensington of an institution or group of associated colleges of science and technology for the provision of highly specialised instruction, incorporating the Royal College of Science, the Royal School of Mines and the Institute's Central Technical College. The charter of incorporation of this new institution, named the Imperial College of Science and Technology, was granted in 1907. Provision was made for five representatives of the Institute to serve on the governing body of Imperial College, which was admitted as a school of the University of London in 1908. In 1911, a delegacy was appointed by the Institute to manage the City and Guilds College. Although incorporated under the name of City and Guilds College, the College was known as the City and Guilds (Engineering) College from 1911 until 1935 to emphasise its status as an engineering college.

5) LEATHER TRADES SCHOOL: In 1889 the Institute took over the running of the Leather Trades School, Bethnal Green and provided financial support for the school in conjunction with the Leathersellers' and Cordwainers' Companies and the Boot and Shoe Manufacturers Association. In 1909 the Leathersellers' Company withdrew its support and, after lengthy negotiations, the Cordwainers' Company assumed sole responsibility for the School which was renamed the Cordwainers' Technical College in 1913.

6) GRANTS: Financial aid was granted by the Institute to other institutions holding classes in technical subjects, for example the British Horological Institute, Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution and the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women.

7) HEAD OFFICE: The Head Office of the Institute was situated at Gresham College until 1958, when it moved to 76 Portland Place. Since 1996 it has been based at 1 Giltspur Street.