South London Polytechnic Institutes Council was established following the City of London Parochial Charities Act, 1883. In the Act the government's Charity Commissioners were to distribute money to schemes which would improve the physical, social and moral condition of Londoners. Edric Bayley, a solicitor and member of the London School Board, wanted to use the money to establish a people's college in Elephant & Castle, which could help alleviate the extreme poverty he saw in that area as well as help strengthen British industry.
In 1887 Bayley established the South London Polytechnic Institutes Council, whose members included the Lord Mayor of London and the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) as its President. In January 1888 the Council appealed to the Charity Commissioners for the money they needed. The Commissioners were impressed and pledged that they would match any funds raised by the public up to the sum of £150,000 in order to establish three technical colleges, or polytechnics, in South London.
A Committee of the Council had the task of raising the money needed from the public and also of deciding where the three polytechnics should be located. The Committee decided that one should be established at Elephant and Castle (now London South Bank University), another at New Cross (which is now Goldsmiths College) and lastly at Battersea (which eventually moved and became part of the University of Surrey). The public appeal for the money needed was launched at a widely publicised dinner held at Mansion House in June 1888. Within four years £78,000 had been raised through the public's generosity for the Elephant & Castle and Battersea Polytechnics, which was matched by the Charity Commissioners.
South London Polytechnic Institutes Council was established following the City of London Parochial Charities Act, 1883. In the Act the government's Charity Commissioners were to distribute money to schemes which would improve the physical, social and moral condition of Londoners. Edric Bayley, a solicitor and member of the London School Board, wanted to use the money to establish a people's college in Elephant & Castle, which could help alleviate the extreme poverty he saw in that area as well as help strengthen British industry.
In 1887 Bayley established the South London Polytechnic Institutes Council, whose members included the Lord Mayor of London and the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) as its President. In January 1888 the Council appealed to the Charity Commissioners for the money they needed. The Commissioners were impressed and pledged that they would match any funds raised by the public up to the sum of £150,000 in order to establish three technical colleges, or polytechnics, in South London.
A Committee of the Council had the task of raising the money needed from the public and also of deciding where the three polytechnics should be located. The Committee decided that one should be established at Elephant and Castle (now London South Bank University), another at New Cross (which is now Goldsmiths College) and lastly at Battersea (which eventually moved and became part of the University of Surrey). The public appeal for the money needed was launched at a widely publicised dinner held at Mansion House in June 1888. Within four years £78,000 had been raised through the public's generosity for the Elephant & Castle and Battersea Polytechnics, which was matched by the Charity Commissioners.
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GB-2110-
Contains the records of South London Polytechnic Institutes Council, comprising:
SLPI/1 Committee minutes, 1887-1888;
SLPI/2 Correspondence, Appeals and Reports, 1887-1894;
SLPI/3 Finance, 1888-1891;
SLPI/4 Letters to Newspapers, 1882-1901;
SLPI/5 South London Polytechnic Institutes (Borough Road Site) Act 1890.
All files in this collection have been appraised as 'retain permanently' according to the University's Record Retention Schedules.
Not expected.
London South Bank University Archives Centre
Open except for records restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.
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Contains the minutes of the Provisional Committee, 1887-1888.
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Contains minutes of the Provisional Committee, Representative Committee, sub-committee appointed by the Provisional Committee and the first three meetings of Council.
Original manuscript bound in the 1970s.
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Contains the early paperwork of South London Polytechnic Institutes including a Memorial (petition) to the Charity Commissioners, appeals for funds and donation cards.
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Correspondence regarding the establishment of Lambeth Polytechnic. The Polytechnic was on the same site as the Brixton School of Building (opened in 1904 as the London County Council School of Building).
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Contains the early paperwork of South London Polytechnic Institutes including a summary of work done by the executive committee and plans of Battersea Polytechnic.
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Contains the financial records of South London Polytechnic Institutes, comprising:
SLPI/3/1 Balance Sheets, 1889-1891;
SLPI/3/2 Lists of Subscribers, c1891;
SLPI/3/3 Receipts for Subscriptions, 1888-1891.
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Contains the following balance sheet and accounts for South London Polytechnic Institutes:
30 June 1889;
11 February 1890;
30 June 1890;
31 December 1890;
30 November 1891.
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Contains the following lists of donations:
Schedule A: Donations apportioned to Battersea;
Schedule B: Donations apportioned to Elephant and Castle;
Schedule C: Non specific donations;
A complete list of donations.
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Contains 6 receipt books for subscriptions for Battersea and Borough Polytechnic.
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Contains copies of letters to newspapers detailing the work of South London Polytechnic Institutes and appealing for funds.
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Copy of the South London Polytechnic Institutes (Borough Road Site) Act 1890 which allowed the governors of the Borough Polytechnic to purchase the freehold of the Borough Road building from the trustees of Bridge House Estates.