Putney School of Art

The School of Art was originally founded in 1883 and has been in Oxford Road, Putney since 1895. The main benefactor of the original Victorian school was Sir William Lancaster, (1841–1929), an eminent local politician and philanthropist, Baron Charles Edward Pollock, (1823-1897) and eminent Judge and Sir Arthur Jeff British statesman and former acting Governor of Jamaica. They and other local residents recognised the need for an art school in the neighbourhood. The first ‘masters’ included John William Allison and James (John) Bowyer. Ten years after opening the intake was such that the existing student accommodation was too small. So a purpose-built school was constructed and in 1906 was taken into the auspices of the London County Council. Other staff and alumni included Clifford Hall, Bernard Adeney, Frederick Austin, Roland Batchelor, Ethel Walker and Lilian Holt.