Roehampton's Evolution in Our History
The Society came to England in 1842 and eventually bought the property of Elm Grove in Roehampton, and founded a school there. For 45 guineas p.a. the pupils were housed, cared for and taught. The school was organized on French lines, not immediately popular with its would-be pupils, but the organisation was gradually modified and the school became more successful. The site has a long history, including being the home for his last years, of William Harvey, who discovered the circulation of the blood.
Over the years the site has evolved from that of a small boarding school for girls, to a teacher training college which later diversified to provide other courses, and eventually federated with three other local colleges (Whitelands, Southlands, and Froebel). This Institute became the University of Roehampton in 2004.
Dorothy Bell's experience of life in the last years of the boarding school
I loved my six years at school, the first four at Roehampton, and the last two in evacuation.
The classes were small, usually no more that fifteen or sixteen, and, on the whole I think we were well taught. Most of the teachers were Religious, there were only a few lay members, for example Miss Hockley for PE and Games, and Dr. Wardale for Music.
Looking back I think that as I had not had an early Catholic upbringing I relished some of the religious practices and customs, such as early morning daily Mass and evening Benediction, more than some of my companions. Like other boarding schools of the time we were pretty regimented with a lot of silence, but there was a lot of fun too, especially on Feast Days, and when evacuation at Newquay and Stanford brought much greater relaxation for both nuns and children.
I look back with much gratitude to the many Religious who certainly gave me a sense of lasting
values and who led me to asking God for a vocation to the Society.
Dorothy Bell RSCJ.
A student in the last years of the training college
In 1874 teachers began to be trained at Roehampton for a few months before moving to Wandsworth. By 1901 numbers had risen so much that teacher training was moved to premises at St. Charles Square, off Ladbroke Grove in North Kensington. During the Second world War both Roehampton and St. Charles were extensively damaged, so, after the war, it was decided to re-locate the boarding school to quieter surroundings in Woldingham, Surrey, and the College returned to the Roehampton site, then in need of much repair and re-building.
Teacher Training courses lasted for two years until 1960 when they were extended to three. I was a student at Digby Stuart College, as the Roehampton site became named on the move from St. Charles, and was one on the final two year intake from 1959 to 1961. The college was still very small in numbers in those days.
I come from the Midlands, so living in London (albeit some journey from the Centre!) gave me a great buzz. I had never met any nuns in my life before so the buzz was somewhat tempered by the seemingly severe figures, clad in black from head to toe, who traversed the quadrangle every
morning on their way back to the community quarters, from where Mass was celebrated in a College hall until the bombed chapel was re-built. I also found that there were many rules and regulations, particularly about times for being in at night, switching off our lights, and whom we could and could not entertain in our rooms!! It took me a little time to adjust, but I gradually came to realise that the nuns were different from any previous teachers I had known. They took a genuine interest in our well-being and were very much at our service whether it was to do with our studies, our worries, our health etc. They came across as very human, but with another dimension in their clear commitment to God. Seeing them at prayer in the chapel made a deep impression on me, partly because they seemed to be able to stay there, and stay still for so long!!! The studies were not over-demanding, though most people did not enjoy the pressures of teaching practice. There was also a lot of innocent fun laid on for special Feast Days, and I made some lifelong friends while I was there.
However, after some months, the atmosphere of a double commitment to God and to we students, began to seep into my bones, and I began to realise with horror that I was becoming aware of a call to enter the Society. So much for my intentions, when going to college, to enjoy the two years in London, get qualified, teach for a bit and then get married!! I struggled for some months, but, then, helped by Sr. Phyllida Baker, our Education Lecturer, I was able to acknowledge the call, and feel a desire to respond. I left Digby in 1961 and entered the Society in 1962.
Marion Charley RSCJ.
Roehampton's Transition into University Status
Once the Polytechnics became Universities in 1992, Roehampton knew that it needed the title of University so that its students could be equal to other graduates in the sector. There were various hurdles to jump. We needed 20 PhD completions that had been supervised by our own staff, and a research culture which could support professors as well as generate articles in learned journals. By the late 1990’s, there was a group of staff who felt that we would be ‘safer’ under the wing of the University of Surrey , whose courses we complemented. So on January 1st 2000, we became ‘ University of Surrey Roehampton for four years, and then in August 2004 we finally gained independent University status and could call ourselves ‘ Roehampton University ’ which had been a long-held dream.
Was the 12 years wait and hard work worth it? I think so. In that time we learnt a lot about the vision and mission of a University in the 21st Century. We created new courses in areas of Human Rights and Social Justice. We employed some fine staff and developed a reputation for research in areas such as Theology and Education. The campuses changed for the better. Southlands relocated to be contiguous with Digby Stuart, and Whitelands moved into the heart of Roehampton village. Each campus had some splendid new buildings, including the creation at Digby Stuart of a wonderful new learning Resources Centre, and a ‘state-of -the-art’ teaching block known as the Duchesne Building. Students were able to enjoy new campus residences, with en-suite provision and self-catering facilities. Recruitment soared, and technological changes enabled new forms of teaching. Today Roehampton University is a popular and self-confident institution which enables many first-generation higher education students to be educated in a wide range of Arts, Education, Business and Science subjects.
Bernadette Porter RSCJ, and former Vice-Chancellor
Link to information about the University: www.roehampton.ac.uk
RSCJ presence in Roehampton today
Although we are only slightly involved in the life of the University today, many RSCJ live in the area.
Barat House Community is a residential community on site, composed of RSCJ and University students who want to live as a community. For more information see “Where we are/locations.”
DuchesneDuchesneon the other side of Roehampton Lane, is the community for our Sisters who are in need of care.
New House Community on the site of Duchesne House provides much RSCJ support for that community.
Rodway Road Community is in Roehampton Village. One RSCJ is Provincial Bursar, and the other is Head of Croydon Sixth Form College.