Academic Life: A student's room, c.1910
A list of furniture from 1882 indicates that student rooms were furnished with items including an ebonical writing table, a book shelf, two black rush chairs, a chain spring bed, a bath, a bath blanket, a fender and fire irons, and a toilet can and pail. At the time the total cost of furniture for one student room was £25, which is equivalent today to approximately £1200.
Florence Hoyte, a student from 1906-1909, recalled, 'In each of our rooms was an open fire place...Think of the maids, lugging the coal...Each morning we were 'called' by a maid, bringing in a jug of hot water. I remember sitting at my desk before breakfast and trying to warm my hands on the light bulb.'
For more student reminiscences of their experiences at Westfield College see further resources in Archive Bookmarks.