In 1853 art classes commenced in Technical Institutes in Chatham and Gillingham as part of a movement to establish a national pattern for Schools of Design.
By 1886 a Government (or Rochester) School of Art was firmly established in Rochester and based in the Guildhall. It is believed to be the forerunner of the present campus. It advertised morning classes for the Government Certificate and General Art Work.
The Head master in 1886 was George Ward who remained in post for 40 years.
The college has had several name changes and changes in purpose in the course of its history, oscillating from purely vocational courses by trying to meet demands of a society post-industrial revolution (firstly by teaching subjects that required hand power such as measured drawing where a single piece of work could take several years to produce. ), in addition to trying to meet the aesthetic needs of individuals. Sometimes these two ideals worked in balance and sometimes in conflict with one another.
By 1893 the college, known as The Municipal School of Art moved into purpose-built premises on the site of The Old Duke Head, (at a cost of 3,500) which was attached to the Guildhall. This was erected as a result of the Technical Education Act of 1890, and both Art and Science classes were held. However, already space was limited as the Art school had already outgrown the three rooms it had been allocated by the date of the official opening!
Over the next few decades there was a shift in thought - students were expected to learn to combine artistic judgement with the technology of mechanical production in order to produce work, rather than relying on drawing skills alone.
Additionally, the teaching of architecture and teacher training courses were now being offered.
Mr H. Ward was its Head, assisted by 3 teachers, and 130 students.
As a result of the Education Act in 1902, which put all education (other than elementary) under the control of the County Council, Science and Commercial classes were moved to other premises. Commerce was to be taught in Chatham, and Science in Gillingham.
In 1903 work began on purpose-designed accommodation in Eastgate, off Rochester High Street (now the Adult Education Centre), which was then opened in November 1907. Continual expansion meant that by 1950 there was an extension to the original building and 3 annexes added.
It was during this time that Architecture was transferred to Canterbury College of Art, and printing classes to Maidstone. However, a Painting and Decorating course was added to the curriculum at Rochester, and by 1912 three Industrial Design courses had also begun to be taught.
In the 1920s the college, greatly influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement, became known as the Medway School of Arts and Crafts. Although it was an economically austere time, funding was found to introduce new courses in response to post-war society's needs. These included Sign Writing, Decorating and Jewellery and watch-repairing for disabled ex-servicemen.
In 1926 a County Report stated that the schools were adapting themselves to take their place as true schools of design
Mr John E. Sunderland (A.R.C.A.) was Head from 1926 - 29, and he was then succeeded by Mr A.L. Reeve (A.R.C.A.) who lead the college for twenty years.
In the 1928 - 29 prospectus college objectives were outlined as being to meet the industrial, commercial and general aesthetic needs of the locality and provide instruction for craftsmen, general students and teachers. Subjects covered included Industrial Crafts (basketry, batik dyeing, bead work, block printing, cabinet making, coach painting, dress design & making, embroidery, etching & engraving, painters and decorators work, leather work, metal work, painted decoration, raffia work, silversmiths work & jewellery, stained glass, stencilling, wood carving, writing & illuminating), shop window display, and of course drawing, painting and modelling for young people, as well as training for teachers of art in elementary and secondary schools. They also had a chance to apply for scholarships at the Royal College of Art. Architectural drawing, design and history also reappeared on the curriculum, as well as lectures on art history.
By the 1930s the college had grown rapidly. An extension was built in Corporation Street (1932/4), and then later it spread to annexes at Fort Pitt, as well as in the High Street (Yeomans) and then into Free School Lane. To relieve cramped conditions senior architects were transferred to the Canterbury College of Art.
The Medway School of Art & Crafts became allied with the Mid-Kent Art Schools region. The other schools included the Schools of Art at Maidstone and Gravesend, and also Art classes at various centres. The school at Tunbridge Wells joined this region in 1948.
C.L. Pickering was appointed as the Chief Instructor of Typography from 1933 to 1948/9
Early nineteenth century buildings at Fort Pitt were demolished in 1936 but plans to build a technical college on the site were delayed by the advent of war. Courses carried on much as usual. Members of the armed forces were exempt from tuition fees for their evening classes. However students could be assured that A.R.P. shelters were provided as well as tuition!
A huge variety of courses were being offered by 1940, from Dressmaking, Pottery, Advertisement Design, Lettering and Typography to Cabinet Making. Formal training was also given to prospective art teachers and handicraft teachers. Unsurprisingly, the college continued expanding. By 1948 there were 196 full-time and 881 part-time students. Subjects were taught from 6 departments Architecture (R.W. Paine ARIBA, ARCA), Drawing & Painting (R.W.J.H. Jones, ARCA), Commercial & Industrial Design R.W.J.H. Jones), Modelling & Sculpture and Womens Crafts (Miss L.M. Pickering and in 1949 Miss M. Early), Printing and Allied Trades (S.J. Sainsbury). Preparations were made to introduce Ministry of Education Intermediate Courses and the National Diploma of Design.
One of the most famous students, Zandra Rhodes joined the second year of the intermediate foundation course in 1957, bypassing the first year through her advanced artistic ability. Her mother, Beatrice Rhodes, taught dressmaking at the college, which Zandra tried to keep a secret from her peers. After her foundation course, she studied for a further two years for the National Diploma in Design. She originally intended to be an illustrator, but also experimented with printing processes on paper such as lino-cutting and lithography in addition to studying printed textiles. Her interest in printed textile design stemmed from the influence of one of the tutors at the college, Barbara Brown, who taught two days a week at the college, as well as being an innovative textile designer for throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Rhodes refocused her studies on printed textiles and went on to win a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, becoming one of the most pioneering and influential textile designers of the late 1960s and 1970s who took her remarkable pop art inspired fabrics and revolutionised the fashion world.
Mr C. Stanley Hayes was appointed Principal in 1952 and the college was re-named The Medway College of Art
There was a major reorganisation of art education nationally. Medway College of Art was designated as a centre for vocational courses, by contrast Maidstone and Canterbury were able to offer the new National Diploma in Art and Design (the equivalent to a modern BA (Hons) degree).
The college continued to expand under the leadership of Mr Joseph Arthur L. Jago (1911 - 72)
By 1970, the college had outgrown its existing site at Eastgate, and its three annexes
A move was proposed and the college gained a new name Medway College of Design along with a new address.
The current building at Fort Pitt was opened in September 1970, costing at that time almost 1 million to build. Designed by architect Hugh Mollison (who also designed the Maidstone College of Art Campus (now also part of UCA), and a number of other buildings of note such as Mid-Kent College, Maidstone). Although the Rochester building is similar in shape to the previous fort situated here (according to a drawing by Turner in 1832), it was built to Mollinsons own Functionalist design. He appreciated that the building needed to suit the local area; therefore he chose to follow the natural lines of the hillside thus reducing the volume of the building that would jut into the skyline. The purpose built building encompasses 8 floors and supplies a floor area of 7938 m2. The building serves as a flexible working space because interior non-supporting walls mean that the inside space is easily adaptable. (The fire escape was later added and Mollison did feel that it detracted from his original design).
Shortly after the new campus was opened it was met with some criticism. One of the main grumbles was the fact that the refectory catered for 100 places and there were 600 students.
Upon construction of the campus a tunnel was discovered approx 40 ft underground on the line of the East Wall of the building. It is 7 ft in diameter and is believe to run to Gun Wharfe in Chatham, at a length of about 1.5 miles away. It is at least 160 years old.
During the leadership of Douglas May (1973 - 1983), there was a renewed awareness in industry regarding the importance of high quality of goods in order to compete with foreign competition. Manufacturers see design as being integral to the overall marketing process. Between 1982 and 1984 work-related design courses validated by the Business and Technician Education Council (BTEC) were introduced.
Mr P.I. Williams (Principal from 1983) continued Mr Mays belief in forging strong links between the college and industrial and commercial organisations. He encouraged many prevalent designers in Britain to work with students and staff in order to create a realistic working environment. Industrial 12 week placements became commonplace and all final year students were taught Business and Management studies as well as Professional Practice. All new students were given computer training, in preparation to meet the technological changes in the workplace.
By 1986 there were 650 full-time students and approximately 145 staff (over half worked part-time).
Contains prospectuses, including general ones, and from specific departments including fashion and visual communication, degree work and student sketchbooks, showing art and fashion techniques
Contact rtaylor8@ucreative.ac.uk or library@ucreative.ac.ukto make an appointment
Catalogued by Rebekah Taylor, Archivist, February 2013
Prospectus providing descriptions of all courses at Medway College of Design through 1929 to 1988, including women's crafts and fashion, showing the development of art courses through the ages. Cover images provide examples for Graphic Design
includes information regarding printing trade classes and decoration trade classes
Contains information on decoration trade classes
Includes information on printing trade classes
Includes information on printing trade classes
Details regarding different course progression
Leaflets from fashion, photography, supporting studies, 3 dimmensional design, visual communication
Includes student work, prospectuses, and careers advice
Poster advertising different clothing courses
Names of students with descriptions of their work produced, including description of the brief, description of what textiles and materials are used, and which colours are used in accordance to the season trends. Includes some photographs of projects
Includes a press release
Unidentified photographs of various student work, including adult and children costume. Possibly relating to student catalogues
Fashion Exam portfolio work by Anne Preston. Advanced dress prepared practical work, it shows different fashion techniques in the 1960s, including different material used, different pattern cutting fabrics. Includes fabrics of cotton, silk, wool, linen, fur. Contains information on the history of costumes, buttonholes, ironing down the ages, pleats, interlinings, dress decoration and french modelling
List of 1981 students
Advertising different courses
Includes photography and printing courses
Advertising different courses
Advertising different courses
Graphic design student postcards
Picture of Rochester in 1750
Calendar with drawings by graphic design students
Photographs of boys from the Rochester School of Art taking part in the Rochester Pageant
Timetable for Centenary Day
Presentation of murals to Gillingham Borough Council
Includes details regarding staffing requirements, articles of government, history of the college, course history
Includes details of foundation course in art and design
A collection of student sketchbooks used for examination purposes, which show different techniques in art, depictions of local scenery including Rochester, Chatham, Canterbury and surrounding areas, with pictures of building views, reflecting the practice of working onsite, and portraits, still life drawing work. Students include Linda Harper, Susan Cooke, J. Clarke, J.Bundell, Margaret Batchelor, Susan Wallace, M.Wight, R. Hopkins and G. Carpenter. Some sketchbooks are undated and unattributed
Deposited in 2008 by UCA tutor , Nick Tidnman
Drawings mostly labelled and dated, some coloured and some pencil sketches
Colour drawings of costumes from the Victoria and Albert Museum, including an English Afternoon Dress 1870-1875, drawn on October 1954
Drawings of a dog and cat, drawn October 1954 (pencil sketches)
Drawings of a horse, drawn October 1954 (pencil sketches)
Images of two women's faces, including profile, and front facing. Entitled Clarette July 1956 and Sanoria July 1955 (pencil sketches)
Images of a kitchen
Image of a 'blue boat' in the harbour
White Horse Inn, Rainham, High Street (undated -around the 1950s) (colour image)
Figures at a bus stop November 1955 (pencil and colour)
A Borstal farmyard, May 1955 (colour drawing)
Drawings of man reclining on a chair, showing workings out (pencil and colour)
Page entitled 'notes for making beds' with images of bed boards (pencill and colour) showing artistic developments
Part of Rainham Recreation House, March 26 1956 (colour drawings)
Building site at Rainham, 1956 (colour drawing)
'Gypsy' caravan site, Darland Bank, January 26th 1956
Lanscape showing part of the Medway near UpChurch Hadeston, (colour drawing)
Gillington fairground, July 5 1955 (pencil and colour drawings)
Rochester high street from City Cafe (pen drawing)
Rainham High Street , August 1955 (colour and pencil)
Abandoned boat on Medway, August 1955 (colour)
St Margaret's Church, Rainham, June 1955 (colour)
Stuffed bird at Eastgate Museum (1950s)
Also general pencil and colour drawings of crowds and individuals, lanscapes, preparing for exhibition drawings, and greenhouse images
Pencil and colour drawings, showing artistic developments, and workings out, including thinking about what colours should be included and where
Mostly unlabelled and undated
Includes sketches of individuals and crowds in a variety of poses, including standing, sitting, leaning down and drinking (mostly in pencil)
Colour and pencil images of shops and landscapes around the Medway area
Pencil and coloured images of flowers
Coloured image of a Turkish carpet , with explanatory information regarding it
Coloured image of a white earthenware Turkish dish, with explanatory information regarding it
Coloured and pencil images of birds, including Turkeys
Coloured image of St Margaret's Church, Rainham, with notes of what it looked like
Images of market scenes around Medway area
Images from the Victoria and Albert Museum
Colour and pencil drawings
Colour images of landscape around Medway, including houses and churches, pubs, boats and corner shopd
Pen drawing of Rochester station
Colour images of cats sleeping
Pen drawings of individuals in a series of poses
Textile images
Includes
Handwritten notes on 'the hospital' (probably Rochester)
Colour images of forged items in Rochester
Colour and pencil images of animals, including cats, dogs, lobsters, seahorses, birds (including falcons, spoonbills, little Grebe, Widgeon Chick)
Old door knockers of Rochester, drawn Summer 1953
Henby landscape 1953
Pencil drawing of St Margaret's Church, Rochester
Pencil drawings of boats
1st century doorway, Rochester
Pencil drawings of costumes from the Victoria and Albert Museum, drawn Spring 1953
Colour drawing of Halling Hills, Spring 1953
Pencil and colour drawings of individuals in a variety of poses
Colour drawings of farmyards
Colour drawing of the Empire Theatre, 1954
Pencil drawing of the Theatre Royal, 1954
Landscape image entitled 'snow!'
Images of clothes
Includes pencil and colour drawings
Includes pencil and colour drawings of individuals, showing clothes, and them in a variety of poses
Colour drawing of King's School Dormitory, Rochester
Images of landscape in the Medway area, including local shops, boats, houses
Drawings of people drawing in a Life Class
Images of crowds shopping, and local market scenes
Costumes drawn in the Victoria and Albert Museum, February 1959
Includes pencil and colour drawings
Pencil and colour potraits of people, some with notes alongside, with descriptions about them, showing a work in progress
Painted images of landscape, including local scenery, mostly unindentified. One painting labelled from Rochester Station, and one pencil drawing of the station, with labels with information regarding the station, and Chatham Townhall
Top of weathercock wrought iron and copper drawing from the V and A Museum
Drawings of animals - cats and birds
Drawings of Medway College of Design's pottery room, with students working, and close up drawings of students working in the library
Sketch of people eating in a dining room in Littlewoods
Drawings of copper kettles, coffee pot silver mark of Charles Wright, and reading candlestick
Costumes from the Victoria and Albert Museum, 18th century, including Puritan
Includes paintings of landscapes of local scenery
Paintings and drawing of local shops, including Jack Stores and Jerrys Transport House
Images of carts
Paintings of ships
Images of animals, including 'Barney' the cat
Image of 'The Park'
Pencil and painting drawings of people
Local high street images with snow
Market scenes
Puppet heads from the Victoria and Albert Museum, labelled with what colours there should be
Drawings of 17th -18th century costumes, labelled with what colours there should be
Painting and drawing of a circus/carnival scene
Pencil and colour drawings, and paintings
Pen drawing of Borden Church, 1962
High street of Rochester, showing local shops, including Martins, 1962
Painters and decorators at work, 1963
Roaddiggers, Sittingbourne, 1963
Hairdressers, 1963
Newington Brickworks, 1963
Sittingbourne high street Spring 1963
Drawings of cats, 'Titus Andronicus'
Pen and colour drawing, Shell Research
Drawings of scenery in Sutton
River scene, Rochester, 1962
Painting of rear view of 16th century Tudor Cottage, 'Dumbles', Chestnut Street, Sittingbourne Kent 1962
Paintings of vegetables and flowers
Painting of inside of the Victoria and Albert Museum, showing glass cases and people
Pen drawing of Rochester bridge, Spring 1963, with labels
Drawing of Salisbury Cathedral, Autumn 1952
Fabric designs
Drawing of Baptist Chapel, Broadstairs, September 1962, and other images from Broadstairs
Paper mill, Sittingbourne, with labels indicating colours to use
Idea for traffic in snowstorm for competition, Star Hill, Rochester 1962
Maidstone Road, Power station
Pencil and colour drawings, and paintings
Includes pencil and colour drawings of people, including figure images, and faces. Also includes baby images
Vegetation images, with labels indicating what colours they should be
Chairs and stools
Images of Sutton
Costume images
Corner shops, MAC Fisheries, with labels identifying what colours should be used
Colour drawings of 16th century earthenware
Middle 19th century coaching house images
Pencil drawing of Gravesend Congregational Church, Kent, with explanatory information
Other scenes in Kent
Pencil drawings of people (full body) in a variety of poses
Drawings of fruit
Images of local scenery in Kent - shops and high street,market scenes, and train station (probably Rochester) with labels saying what colours different aspects should be
Images from Cumbria (then Cumberland) with Ullswater and Bassenthwaite
Drawings of 18th-19th century costumes
Drawing of Canterbury Cathedral, with labels saying what colours different aspects should be
Pencil and colour drawings, and painting
Pen drawings of trees and vegetation, including Horse Chestnut and Sycamore, 1957
Images of people, full figures, and faces only
Fruit images
Scenery in Kent,including Frindsbury, including bandstands, children playing on Church Green and the Church
Animal drawings of mice and cats
Designs for fabric
Canterbury Cathedral and part of Kings School (colour) July 1955
College of Arms
18th century women's costume
The Music Room from Norfolk House
Chapter School, Strood
Troy Town School, Rochester
Images of
People, close up (potraits)
Restoration House
Students working in wood work rooms, school free lane
Rochester Market with Cathedral
Fruit
Corner shops
Plans of houses
Tottington Farm Oast house
Cellar, Rose and Crown, Wouldham
Drawings of Eastgate House, Rochester
Halling images
Crowds of people