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Battersea Men's Institute was opened in 1920. It was run by the London County Council and was housed in a former school building in Latchmere Road. The purpose of the Institute was to provide evening and weekend courses to interested men. The Institute was open to all men over the age of 18 who paid a small amount of money per term to attend classes. The classes were in practical subjects and were designed to be taken for interest rather than to further a career. Courses included cookery, music, poultry keeping, art, petrol engines, science, photographs and electricity. There were also social events and sports clubs. There were over 1100 members in 1929 and 3000 in the late 1930s. Women were admitted in the 1940s. The Institute also had further branches in Warple Way, Waldron Road and Magdalen Road, as well as making use of the facilities in local schools.