Included in the recent plans for the expansion of Royal Holloway is its development across the A30 into an area of Englefield Green which has now become known as its ‘North Campus’. Before Royal Holloway College merged with Bedford College in 1985 to become the present Royal Holloway, University of London, it had already, since its inception as a single building (Founders) in 1886, begun to expand into this area. This exhibition displays material in the Oliver Collection which relates to aspects of this early development of a ‘North Campus’.
One of the most interesting areas of this early development originated in the purchase by Royal Holloway College in 1949 of Elm Lodge, a 5 acre site situated at the junction of Harvest Road with the A30. This site became the home of the London University Botanical Supply Unit which was established there in 1950. The area was subsequently expanded over the years by the gradual acquisition of a further twenty two acres of land to the west of it, eventually bringing the total plot up to the rear of the Pack Horse pub (later renamed The Royal Ascot and now called the Monkey’s Forehead) after the additional purchase by the end of the 1950s of the two houses and their grounds, The Beeches and The Chestnuts. Known popularly as the Botanic Garden, it contained an Arboretum* as well as herbaceous and shrub beds, and glass houses were erected for the propagation of specimen plants. Under its first head, Professor Frank Jane, the Unit supplied all the University of London colleges with plant specimens for undergraduate and research use. Over the years The Beeches and The Chestnuts were used by Royal Holloway College for a variety of academic and residential purposes. Elm Lodge was used for staff and postgraduate student accommodation. The Botanical Unit was closed at the end of July 1992 and the maintenance of the Garden became the responsibility of the Estates Department of Royal Holloway. The entire site, with the exception of the Arboretum (which will be carefully preserved and maintained), has now been cleared for its future development as an area mostly for student accommodation as part of Royal Holloway’s plan to achieve a significant expansion of its student population. The clearing of the site included the demolition of Elm Lodge and The Beeches. The Chestnuts is earmarked for eventual removal but for the next couple of years will probably be refurbished for ancillary and operational purposes.
The buildings known as Woodlands and those located in Highfield and Wetton’s Terrace, all located between the A30 and South Road and stretching from St Judes Road to Harvest Road, together constitute another site which had been acquired by the end of the 1970s and utilised by Royal Holloway College for various academic (of which Music eventually predominated) and residential purposes.
Another important building acquired in this period on the north side of the campus was Sutherland House. This Grade II-listed Regency building was bought by Royal Holloway College in 1962 and for some years housed the research and project division of the Physics Department before it eventually, in 1982, became the home of the College’s Drama Department.
Kingswood, although some distance from the other areas mentioned above, can also be regarded as part of the early development of the ‘North Campus’. This 18th century neo-classical building was purchased by Royal Holloway College in 1965 and was converted into a hall of residence for the accommodation of the first intake of male students.
When, therefore, the two colleges merged in 1985 Royal Holloway College already had a considerable presence across the A30 in Englefield Green and this lent itself to the ambitious plans, currently in train, of the present Royal Holloway, University of London (the name chosen for the merged Colleges) to develop this ‘North Campus’ a great deal further.
* The Arboretum, planted during the 1960’s and 1970’s and noted on the Tree Register as “a unique record of Notable and Ancient Trees in Britain and Ireland” was the brainchild of Professor F.W Jane, Professor of Botany from 1949-1963.
Items on display:
1. Extract from a description of Elm Lodge contained in a brochure related to its sale on 30th October 1895.
2. Photo of Elm Lodge after its sale to Royal Holloway College during the period when its grounds were used by the London University Botanical Supply Unit.
3. Extract from a description of Sutherland House contained in a brochure related to its sale on 12th July, 1916.
4. Extract from a description of Kingswood contained in a brochure related to its sale on 24th July, 1918.
5. Extract from a description of The Chestnuts in a brochure related to its sale on 28th November 1928.
6. Extract from a description of The Chestnuts in a brochure related to its sale on 13th October 1881.
7. Extract from a description of Highfield contained in a brochure related to its sale on 21st June, 1888.
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Joan Wintour
19 January, 2016
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