ABSTRACT

Originally published in 1954, this is the first full-length account of the history of the Working Men’s College in St.Pancras, London. One hundred and fifty years on from its foundation in 1854, it is the oldest adult educational institute in the country. Self-governing and self-financing, it is a rich part of London’s social history. The college stands out as a distinctive monument of the voluntary social service founded by the Victorians, unchanged in all its essentials yet adapting itself to the demands of each generation of students and finding voluntary and unpaid teachers to continue its tradition.

chapter 1|15 pages

Origins, 1848–1854

chapter 2|42 pages

Foundation, 1854

chapter 3|29 pages

Early Days, 1854–1872

chapter 4|25 pages

Crisis and Reorganization, 1872–1883

chapter 6|20 pages

The Problems of Middle-age, 1902–1918

chapter 7|20 pages

The Inter-War Years, 1918–1939

chapter 8|15 pages

The Latest Phase, 1939–1954