KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Miscellaneous records regarding Kensington and Chelsea school district

Before 1876 the parishes of St. Mary Abbots, Kensington, and St. Luke, Chelsea, were constituents of the North Surrey School District. With the rapid growth of population the accommodation at Anerley became inadequate and Kensington wished to build and maintain a separate institution for its own needs. Under pressure from the Local Government Board Kensington agreed to unite with Chelsea into a new School District, which was established under an order dated 15 August 1876. The parish of St. Marylebone was joined to the School District under an order of the Ministry of Health of 26 March 1920.

During the period before the completion of the Cottage Homes at Banstead, the children were found temporary accommodation in the Marloes Road Workhouse, Kensington, which belonged to the united parishes of St. Margaret and St. John, Westminster. The first children were received at Banstead on 13 September 1880.

The Branch School at Marlesford Lodge, King Street, Hammersmith, was opened on 5 March 1883 as a reception centre for girls and infant boys temporarily in the care of the Guardians or awaiting transfer to Banstead. With additional accommodation for boys of seven and over in 1885, it provided accommodation for 130 children.

The Board of Management also secured agreements with other Poor Law authorities to send children to Banstead. These included Mile End, Epsom, Guildford, and Hampstead.

When the London County Council took over the responsibilities of the School District in 1930 both schools continued to be used, Banstead as a residential school (known as Beechholme from 1951), and Marlesford Lodge as a children's home.