Another set of renovation works that Westfield College carried out was to establish an adjoining residential wing. This began right before the Library was completed.
There was an overflow of students and some had to be accommodated by renting a house in the neighbourhood.
The newly established Wing was ready in October 1905 and provided another 16 places. It was paid for almost entirely by Ann Dudin Brown and so was named after her.
Source used:
Sondheimer, J. (no date) CASTLE ADAMANT IN HAMPSTEAD. London, Hampstead: Westfield College University of London.
Constance Maynard’s reaction to the new location of Westfield College was a disappointed reaction. She felt that it did not suit the image of Westfield College.. However, it became apparent that Kidderpore Hall and its associated features provided an environment in which the College could grow without compromising its well-known identity.
The mansion was built in 1840s and Falconer Macdonald’s extension in the south direction gave way to form the Dining Hall. This nearly recreated the ambiance of a country estate that had eluded the College during its initial opening.
In the residential wing, eventually called Maynard’s wing, there was accommodation for 44 students and the small group of staff that was the Resident Lecturers. There was even space to dedicate a room to old students who often had a tendency to return to Westfield College for a visit.
Westfield College made an application in March 1901 to the Senate for the admission of Westfield as a School in the Faculties of Arts and Science.
Their first application was rejected and the reject letter implied that if they were to amend their issues, there was a chance that their second application could be successful.
Dr Frank Heath from the Academic Registrar inspected Westfield College and highlighted two problems that prevented Westfield College from achieving its goal. The first was that the subjects were taught by the college without any accredited teachers. The second issue was that the library and laboratory did not meet the required standard. The library did not provide a space to study Arts or Science and the laboratory was situated in the attic and could only be used for courses in Chemistry, Zoology and Botany and required, at least, a Physical Laboratory.
Westfield College managed to deal efficiently with the first issue; they appointed accredited teachers from other institutions as their Visiting Lecturers. To tackle the second issue, however, required a bit more effort. The Council of Westfield of College did not have sufficient funds to develop both the Arts and Sciences at the same time alongside the library. They decided in January 1902 to solely focus on improving the library.
Through the efforts of multiple Council members and Westfield College staff such as Caroline Skeel, Westfield College managed to build a Library to replace the room on the first floor of Old House and two additional Lecture Rooms.
When they made another application to be considered as a Faculty of Arts, they were told they were successful via a telegram on 26 June 1902.
Source:
The library was named after Caroline Skeel whose tremendous efforts assisted in Westfield College being recognised as a Faculty of Arts.
Caroline Skeel was Westfield’s only Lecturer in History at one point and she was also Librarian. She dedicated her spare time in the Public Record Office and the British Museum in order to pursue her own research.
Due to her ill health in 1907, she was resigned from her position. Her position as a Director of Studies in History was replaced by her previous teacher, Ellen McArthur.
In the photo above, the Maynard Wing can be seen on the left and the Chapman Wing can be seen on the right.
Westfield College continued to physically expand as the number of admitted students grew.
In 1927, a new wing, named for Lady Chapman was added. The purpose of the wing was to prevent the overflow of students and provide rooms for additional staff, two lecture rooms and a second library.
The Chapman Wing was placed at a right angle to Maynard and it faced Dudin Brown – the College hoped to create another building to finish the quadrangle. However, this was delayed due to focusing on establishing another residential and teaching building.
Sondheimer, J. (no date) CASTLE ADAMANT IN HAMPSTEAD. London, Hampstead: Westfield College University of London
As the College celebrated its Jubilee, many teachers who had began their role under Maynard began to slowly retire and leave.
One of which was Miss Richardson, endearingly known as St Anne. She was known to be the spiritual aspiration of Westfield by many students and in commemoration of her work, it was decided to establish a chapel.
The Chapel was secluded and unobtrusive, designed by Morley Horder who followed Miss Richardson’s desire that it should be ‘small and simple’