An earlier Godalming Institute had been set up by Thomas Rea, J.P. in 1858[1].
Its promoters had wanted to place "within reach of all classes the means of acquiring useful and scientific knowledge through
lectures on the arts and sciences". A library and reading room were to be set up in the Town Hall and numerous meetings and lectures
were arranged[2]. By 1893 the former venture was reported to have been in a moribund
state for some time, said to be neglected as nobody was doing anything with it. An attempt to infuse new life into it had failed[3].
Instead, a new and somewhat different Technical Institute was about to be erected beside the bridge over Hell Ditch, under the
joint auspices of Surrey County Council and the local Technical Education Committee[3],
later Godalming Higher Education Committee. The state had become involved in promoting vocational education through the Technical
Instruction Act of 1889[4] and a number of other technical institutes were being
introduced across the county at the same time as the one in Godalming.
The new building first appeared on the 1895 OS map[5] and opened as the Technical Institute
and School of Science and Art on 13 May 1896. It was built of brick and Bath stone in the Renaissance Style[6].
The words "Surrey County Council" can still be read on the triangular pediment and the panel below this reads "Godalming
Technical Institute". On the right of the building is a square tower, at the bottom of which is the porch surrounding the front door.
This has a rounded top, underneath which is an attractive shell moulding supported on stone pilasters on brick bases.
It was designed by Samuel Welman, an architect in Godalming for over 40 years who had premises in Church Street. He was also the borough
surveyor for some years[7].
Classes held and subjects taught included elementary teaching, building construction, magnetism and electricity, French, shorthand, wood
carving, carpentry, ambulance (men), dress cutting, cookery and nursing. When Viscount Middleton addressed those attending the annual prize giving
in 1897 he noted that there had been a slight fall off in the attendees but trusted that the movement in Godalming would be no momentary flash
in the pan. He hoped that there might be a steady influx of students to those different classes. A laboratory had been set in the science classroom
for elementary physics and it was expected it would begin after Christmas[8]. Early the following year
Councillor Rea commented that the chief work of the County Council during the previous three years had been the building and opening of the
Institute. "The excellent educational work which the Council is doing here is illustrated by the fact that the results of
examinations place Godalming Technical Institute second to none in the county[9]."
The effect of the First World War was impinging on classes at the Technical Institute by the summer of 1915. When the next session was being arranged
it was first thought that some classes would be discontinued as attendance had fallen, some subjects were to be dropped and others would be held
only if there was sufficient demand. In the end, things were not as serious as expected and 414 took advantage of the facilities offered; this
included 200 attending the Red Cross nursing classes. Meanwhile the art master, Mr. Victor W. Burnard, was elected to the Royal Society of
Miniature Painters[10].
The Institute was managed by a committee organized by the Town Council. In 1913 Alderman Henry George Bunning, a Godalming builder, was the
chairman. Dr. Thomas Ethelbert Page, a former Charterhouse house master, filled the position in 1924[6].
He was chairman for at least 15 years. Richard Mervyn Palmer served as secretary to the Godalming Higher Education Committee from 1904 until
1932[11]. He was the Headmaster of the Technical Institute for some years[12]
but was then appointed head of Meadrow School[13].
Classes were held during the evenings as well as during the day. One problem regarding attendance in the inter war era, though, was highlighted at a meeting
in 1931 when Mr. L. R. Furneaux remarked that the reason why young people in the villages did not avail themselves of the classes at the Technical Institute
was the difficulty of transport. It was also noted that since the war a number of students were not up to standard with arithmetic, some receiving no marks
at all when sitting for junior scholarships. This was put down to the elementary education they had received and there was a call for something between
the elementary and technical schooling provided to improve this. A Central School was suggested and the meeting decided to urge the County Council to act
quickly to both reorganise elementary education and to set up a Central School in the borough[14].
The Technical Institute later became an Adult Education Institute. The building changed its use again in 2002 when it was converted into flats;
it is now known as Bridge Gate House and is Grade II listed. |
