Key Dates

The newly opened (June 2009) QEC and Chelsea Archive has a fascinating timeline of QEC. Click here to see it.

1871

King’s College Lectures for Ladies begin in Richmond and Twickenham.

1878

Lectures move to Vestry Hall, High Street, Kensington.

1879

Lectures move to 5 Observatory Avenue (9 Horton Street).

1881

King’s College Council resolves to establish a separate department for “the higher education of women”.

1885

The Ladies’ Department opens at 13 Kensington Square, recognised as an official Department of King’s College.

1902

The Ladies Department becomes the Women’s Department.

1908

King’s College for Women inaugurated as an independent College within the University.
Home Science and Economics classes started.

1913

King’s College for Women Delegacy constituted independently from King’s College, London.
The Haldane Commission recommends dissolution of King’s College for Women.

1915

Household and Social Science Department, King’s College for Women, opens at Campden Hill Road. Remaining departments amalgamate  on the Strand site.

1920

University grants a B.Sc. Degree in Household and Social Science.

1928

The College becomes completely independent as King’s College of Household and Social Science.
The title King’s College for Women is established.

1930

Buildings completed in accordance with original designs.

1936

Academic Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics inaugurated.

1939

College evacuated to University College, Cardiff.

1940

College relocated to Leicester.

1944

East Block severely damaged by enemy action.

1946

College returns to Campden Hill and rebuilding begins.

1948

Freehold of College Buildings acquired in addition to Holly Lodge and Thornwood Lodge.

1953

Royal Charter granted and name changed to Queen Elizabeth College
Men admitted
Old degree replaced with BSc (Nutrition) and BSc (Household Science)
East Wing reopened by Her Majesty Princess Alice.

1955

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother visits College for the first time.

1956

Recognition as a School of the University in the Faculty of Science granted.

1957

BSc (General) begins.

1958

Golden Jubilee celebrated; Sir John Atkins retires as Chairman of the Council.

1961

First phase of Sir John Atkins Laboratories opened.

1968

Atkins Building completed.

1972

Murray report published.
first attempts made at merging with other Colleges of the University.

1981

Swinnerton-Dyer Report pessimistic about College’s survival. The Court of the University cuts recurrent grant by 20%.

1982

Reunification with King's College London first proposed.

1985

Amalgamation with Chelsea College and King’s College completed.

1985-today

QEC Association keeps the name of the College alive

All the above courtesy of Neville Marsh’s book “The History of Queen Elizabeth College

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This page last updated 26 July 2009