20 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF NOTTINGHAM AND DISTRICT 



acquisitions being a new block of classrooms, a new gymnasium and a 

 beautiful hall with organ and complete dramatic equipment, a gift from 

 an old boy and present Governor of the school. 



In adult education, Nottingham has always been in the forefront. 

 In 1798 the Quakers founded an Adult School, the parent of the many 

 existing Adult Schools. In 1816 the Bromley House Library was founded 

 and became the centre of intellectual life in the town. In 1837 the 

 Mechanics Institute was founded. This Institute was burned down in 

 1867, and it was from a meeting held to discuss its rebuilding that there 

 came the first idea of a University in Nottingham. 



In 1846 the People's College was founded for the mental and moral 

 improvement of the labouring population, clerks, warehousemen and 

 others receiving wages or salaries for their services. This College has had 

 a varied career. It was transferred to the School Board in 1879, and 

 was made a Higher Grade School. Since that time it has been a Senior 

 Mixed School and a Selective Central School, and it is now a District 

 Central School for Boys in the daytime and a Senior Evening Institute in 

 the evenings. 



In 1843 a School of Design was founded for furtherance of industrial 

 art. It was at first maintained largely by voluntary subscriptions. In 

 1863 the School was erected on its present site in Waverley Street, the 

 site having been presented for the purpose by the Corporation. The cost 

 of the building was £20,000, which was defrayed by voluntary subscrip- 

 tions. The building was opened in 1864; responsibility for its main- 

 tenance was undertaken by the Corporation in 1888 as stated above. 



In 1875 an anonymous donor gave £10,000 to provide an income to pay 

 University Lecturers in the City, and the Corporation practically at once 

 decided to erect a University College. The Foundation Stone of this 

 College was laid by the Mayor in 1877 in the presence of Mr. W. E. 

 Gladstone, and the building was opened in 1881 by H.R.H. Prince Leopold. 

 In 1919 Sir Jesse Boot made his first gift of £50,000, of which £30,000 was 

 appropriated to the Building Fund of the College. After that date 

 Sir Jesse Boot (later Lord Trent) spent over £500,000 in purchasing 

 and laying out University Park, and in erecting thereon the present Uni- 

 versity College. This College, standing on a height overlooking University 

 Park, is a landmark to all entering the city and a fitting memorial to 

 Nottingham's greatest benefactor. Its erection has made possible work 

 which could not be attempted in the cramped quarters of the old Uni- 

 versity College. Now practically the whole of the university work has 

 been transferred to the new buildings, leaving the old University College 

 to house the technological courses 



Both sides of the work have benefited from the increased accommod- 

 ation. On the University side, the number of full-time and part-time 

 students engaged in work of University standard has increased to over 

 800, necessitating the building of additional hostels. On the Technological 

 side, large extensions have been made in the old building to the labora- 

 tories for mining and for textiles. In adult education the delegacy for 

 extra mural studies now provides University extension and tutorial classes 

 for over 4,000 students resident in the East Midlands area. 



