Institutions of Technical Education/Instruction in Britain in 1878

A special committee was established in 1877 by a number of Livery Companies under the chairmanship of George Bartley to enquire and investigate the state of provision of technical education in Britain in 1878 (see biography of Artizans’ Institute on this website). In all institutions over 40 institutions were identified by the committee and included the following:
Agricultural College, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Anderson Institute, Glasgow
Artizans’ Institute, St. Martin’s Lane, London
Birkbeck Institute, Chancery Lane, London
Building Trades Institute, Manchester
Chemists and Druggists Schools, Bradford
College for Working Women, Fitzroy Square, London
Colliery Schools
Cookery Schools
Co-operative Societies Schools, Rochdale, Lancashire
Crystal Palace School of Practical Engineering, London
Dockyard Schools
Glasgow Technical College, Scotland
Gresham College, London
Huddersfield Mechanical Institute and Trades School, Yorkshire
Hull Navigation School, Yorkshire
Islington School of Science and Art, Essex Road North, London
Keighley Trade School, Yorkshire
King’s College, London
Leeds Mechanical Institute, Yorkshire
London Institute, Finsbury Circus, London
Middle Class Schools, Cowper Street, London
North of Scotland School of Chemistry and Agriculture, Aberdeen, Scotland
Oldham Science and Art School, Lancashire
Owens College, Manchester
Plymouth Navigation School, Devon
Railway Schools
Royal College of Mines, London
Royal Indian Engineering College, Coopers Hill
Royal Marine Schools
Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London
Royal Polytechnic institution, Regent Street, London
South London Workmen’s College, London
St. Margaret’s Technical Schools, Westminster, London
Strand Mechanical Institute, London
Telegraphist School, General Post Office, London
Trade and Mining School, Bristol. Borders with Somerset and Gloucestershire
University College, London
Workmen’s College, Great Ormond Street, London
Yorkshire College of Science, Leeds, Yorkshire
Note 16 were in London and 24 outside London in spite of the fact that much of the manufacturing and industry was outside the capital – again reflecting the supposed importance and centricity factor of the city.
Note: Cambridge and Oxford Universities were also involved in the review.
See the pen portrait of the Artizans’ Institute on this website for a more detailed account of the Livery Companies review. The review played a significant part in establishing the City and Guilds of London Institute (CGLI) – again see the pen portrait of CGLI, Central Institution, Finsbury Technical College and the City and Guilds of London Art School on this website. People involved in the review included William Armstrong (industrialist and inventor), George Bartley (philanthropist), John Donnelly (educationalist – Science and Art and Society of Arts), Douglas Galton (scientist), Thomas Huxley (scientist) and Henry Trueman Wood (administrator Society of Arts).

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