History and Architecture

WM College, originally founded in 1854 as the Working Men’s College is the oldest surviving adult education institute in Europe. Originally sited on Great Ormond Street, the College moved to new purpose-built premises designed by W.D. Caroe on Crowndale Road, Camden in 1905.

It is a beautiful, busy red brick Grade II listed building in the heart of Camden, showcasing a mix of Queen Anne and Baroque Classicism; Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts details.

Over the years, the building has been adapted and extended to meet the growing and changing needs of the College. In recent years that work has also focused on maintaining many of the original features. Rooms have been refurbished to ensure they are fit for 21st century purpose but still retain the history and heritage of the original such as the stunning oak paneled library, modelled on Wren’s library at Trinity College, Cambridge where W.D. Caroe studied and took inspiration from.

Amongst the original College founders were: Frederick Denison Maurice, John Ruskin, Lowes Cato Dickenson and Thomas Hughes. Their aim was to establish a place where skilled artisans could pursue a liberal education. Other notable College supporters included: Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Charles Kingsley, Octavia Hill and Charles Blachford Mansfield.

The College has continued to develop that tradition of liberal education. Today, the College serves the whole community, reflecting the diversity of Camden, London and beyond providing opportunities for adults seeking work; wanting to achieve formal qualifications; learn a new skill; meet new friends or find fun and enjoyment in a new craft – all working towards improving health, wellbeing and employment prospects.

Following are descriptions of the College’s principal architectural spaces.

Former Common Room

Two large, linked common rooms were provided in Caröe’s original plans. Placed on the principal floor facing Crowndale Road, they reflected the value founder F.D. Maurice attached to both fellowship and the equal status of students and teachers; there was no separate staff room.

In recent years they have been separated and one is now used for administration (closed to visitors), and both have been restored. Their plaster ceiling mouldings and Georgian fireplaces (brought from Great Ormond Street) give them considerable dignity.

Classroom

The original classrooms facing the streets suffered from solar gain and, if windows were opened, traffic noise and pollution. A new ventilation strategy implemented by Brinson Staniland Partnership and Atomik Architecture draws in fresh air above the stairways and expels vitiated air via re-used (plus a few new) ventilation grilles on the south façade. Blinds reflect sunlight and reduce glare, while secondary glazing provides new sound and thermal insulation.

The classrooms have significantly improved in comfort, and have also been fitted with modern IT, interactive screens and storage.

Library

The prominence in the street of the hall and library wing symbolised the importance to the WMC of literary study and collegiate activity. The library is its finest existing space. It is modelled on Wren’s library at Trinity College, Cambridge – where Caröe had been an undergraduate – and Renaissance precedents. The space is now recently re-furbished and is base location and show piece for the London Open House 2025.

Ruskin Art Room

With its high curved ceiling and huge semi-circular east window, this is a fine art studio. On the original plans it was called a museum, but teaching studios then often displayed exemplary works of painting and sculpture. Its adjacency to the library suggests that it was seen as another kind of learning resource. At some point it was named the John Ruskin Room – fittingly, given his early inspirational role as a teacher at the WM College.

A few years ago a mezzanine was discreetly inserted at the west end to increase floorspace.

Maurice Hall

Caröe’s original hall was double-height with an arched proscenium, gallery and coved ceiling. By 1968 such grandeur was no longer required and Caröe’s successor practice, Martin Caroe, divided it horizontally to provide additional floorspace on a new interstitial floor. This necessitated new first-floor windows in the Camden Street frontage and lowering existing hall window heads, but this and the internal alterations were handled sensitively.

Recently installed suspended heating/ventilation ducts and absorbent panels have improved its acoustic performance and comfort

Café & Learning Centre

In 2006-8, Todd Architects transformed the unattractive north-facing rear courtyard by inserting a new double-height extension, with an internet café above and an open learning centre in the basement below. Dramatically top-lit from linear rooflights on each side, the café doubles as a display space for art, the Ruskin Gallery. This has freed the former common rooms for other purposes.