Bedford College was in York Place after 1874 Bedford College was founded in London in 1849 as the first

higher education Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after comple ...

college for

women A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...

in the United Kingdom. In 1900, it became a constituent of the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

. Having played a leading role in the advancement of women in higher education and public life in general, it became fully

coeducation Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to t ...

al (i.e. open to men) in the 1960s. In 1985, Bedford College merged with

Royal Holloway College Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public research university and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It has six schools, 21 academic departm ...

, another constituent of the University of London, to form Royal Holloway and Bedford New College. This remains the official name, but it is commonly called

Royal Holloway, University of London Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public research university and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It has six schools, 21 academic departm ...

(RHUL).

History

Foundation

The college was founded by

Elizabeth Jesser Reid Elizabeth Jesser Reid (; 25 December 1789 – 1 April 1866) was an English social reformer, anti-slavery activist and philanthropist. She is best remembered as the founder of Bedford College. Biography Early life Elisabeth Jesser Sturch was ...

(''née'' Sturch) in 1849, a social reformer and anti-slavery activist, who had been left a private income by her late husband, Dr John Reid, which she used to patronise various philanthropic causes. Mrs Reid and her circle of well-educated friends believed firmly in the need to improve education for women. She leased a house at 47

Bedford Square Bedford Square is a garden square in the Bloomsbury district of the Borough of Camden in London, England. History Built between 1775 and 1783 as an upper middle class residential area, the square has had many distinguished residents, inclu ...

in the

Bloomsbury Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural, intellectual, and educational institutions. Bloomsbury is home of the British Museum, the largest mus ...

area of London and opened the Ladies College in Bedford Square. The intention was to provide a liberal, non-sectarian education for women, something no other institution in the United Kingdom provided at the time. Reid placed £1,500 (

GBP Sterling (abbreviation: stg; Other spelling styles, such as STG and Stg, are also seen. ISO code: GBP) is the currency of the United Kingdom and nine of its associated territories. The pound ( sign: £) is the main unit of sterling, and t ...

) with three male

trustee Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, is a synonym for anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility to t ...

s and persuaded a number of her friends to serve on the management committees and act as teaching professors. In their first term they had 68 pupils. Initially the governance of the College was in the hands of the Ladies Committee (comprising some influential women) and the General Committee made up of the Ladies, the professors of the college and three trustees. It was the first British institution partly directed by women. The General Committee (later the Council) soon took over the running of the College, while the Ladies Committee directed the work of the Lady Visitors, who were responsible for the welfare and discipline of the students, and acted as their chaperones. Initially the professors were shocked by the generally low educational standards of the women entering the college, who in most cases had only home-based

governess A governess is a largely obsolete term for a woman employed as a private tutor, who teaches and trains a child or children in their home. A governess often lives in the same residence as the children she is teaching. In contrast to a nanny, th ...

education. In response, Reid founded Bedford College School close to the college in 1853, in an attempt to provide a better standard of entrants. In 1860, the college expanded into 48 Bedford Square, which enabled it to become a residential establishment. "The Residence" was in the charge of a matron, who introduced the practice of students help to run the house and keep their own accounts.

Succession

Elizabeth Reid died in 1866 and left a trust fund and the leases of the college's buildings in the hands of three female trustees

Eliza Bostock Elizabeth Anne "Eliza" Bostock (1817 – 13 April 1898) was a British promoter of women's education. She became a trustee at Bedford College after attending lessons there herself. At the time Bedford College was one of the few places where women ...

, Jane Martineau and Eleanor Smith. The three of them were concerned that Bedford College School was to become Anglican under the head, Francis Martin. They closed the school although the idea went on without the trustees support as the Gower Street School being led, in time, by

Lucy Harrison Lucy Harrison (17 January 1844 – 15 May 1915) was a teacher at Bedford College School, and later founder and then head of Gower Street School for Girls and then The Mount School, York. Early life Lucy Harrison was born on 17 January 1844 in ...

in 1875. The trustees insisted on a new constitution (as the college had no legal charter at the time). The Council was replaced by a Committee of Management and the college reconstituted as an Association under the

Board of Trade The Board of Trade is a British government body concerned with commerce and industry, currently within the Department for International Trade. Its full title is The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of ...

and officially became known as Bedford College. In 1874, the Bedford Square lease expired and the college moved to 8 and 9 York Place, off

Baker Street Baker Street is a street in the Marylebone district of the City of Westminster in London. It is named after builder William Baker, who laid out the street in the 18th century. The street is most famous for its connection to the fictional detec ...

was still a trustee but many looked to her as honorary Principal and with her knowledge of building and architecture she organised the college's move to York place. The two houses, 8 and 9, acted as one, with the college using the downstairs rooms and the upstairs being the Residence. As numbers began to rise, the college expanded by adding extensions to house science laboratories. In the late 1870s, an entrance examination was introduced and a preparatory department set up for those who did not meet the standards required for college-level entry.

Women with degrees

In 1878, degree examinations of the University of London were opened to women. Bedford College students began gaining University of London

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...

and

Master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

s from the early 1880s. In 1900, when the University of London became a teaching university (where it had previously been only a degree-awarding body), Bedford College became one of its constituent colleges. It applied to the

Privy Council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...

for a

Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, bu ...

to take the place of its Deed of Incorporation. Royal Assent for the new chartered body was received in 1909, and the College became officially recognised as Bedford College for Women. Continued growth led to a search for new premises, leading to the purchase of the lease on a site at

Regent's Park Regent's Park (officially The Regent's Park) is one of the Royal Parks of London. It occupies of high ground in north-west Inner London, administratively split between the City of Westminster and the Borough of Camden (and historically betwee ...

in 1908. A major fund-raising effort was undertaken to provide it with modern amenities. The purpose-built buildings were designed by the architect

Basil Champneys Basil Champneys (17 September 1842 – 5 April 1935) was an English architect and author whose most notable buildings include Manchester's John Rylands Library, Somerville College Library (Oxford), Newnham College, Cambridge, Lady Margaret Hall, ...

and officially opened by Queen Mary in 1913. The buildings continued to be extended and rebuilt throughout the 70 years that the college spent at Regent's Park, especially after extensive damage from wartime bombing. The college colours were green and grey, said to be those of

Minerva Minerva (; ett, Menrva) is the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. Minerva is not a patron of violence such as Mars, but of strategic war. From the second century BC onward, the Roma ...

. Purple was added in 1938 to represent the university; the resulting colours were, by chance or design, similar to those of women's

suffrage Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in representative democracy, public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally i ...

in the United Kingdom. A permanent record of the pictorial history of the college was made following the final reunion of former students and the collection and cataloguing of the archives in 1985. Bedford firsts include: *First women to run a British institution. *First Social Sciences department in the UK, established 1918 *First woman to hold a chair in philosophy in the UK,

Susan Stebbing Lizzie Susan Stebbing (2 December 1885 – 11 September 1943) was a British philosopher. She belonged to the 1930s generation of analytic philosophy, and was a founder in 1933 of the journal ''Analysis.'' Stebbing was the first woman to hold a p ...

. *One of the first two women Fellows of the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

*Fourth woman chairman of the

Trades Union Congress The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a national trade union centre A national trade union center (or national center or central) is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a country. Nearly every country in the world has a national tra ...

(TUC),

Marie Patterson Constance Marie Patterson (1 April 1934 – 27 November 2021) was a British trade unionist. Patterson attended Pendleton High School, Salford, and Bedford College, London, before becoming active in the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGW ...

*The first art school in England where women could draw from life After a brief period of admitting a small number of male

postgraduate Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree. The organization and stru ...

students, the college became fully coeducational when 47 men passed through clearing in 1965, and the name reverted to Bedford College. In the early 1980s, Bedford College had approximately 1,700 students and 200 academic staff based in 20 departments.

Merger with Royal Holloway

In 1985, Bedford College merged with

, another college of the University of London which, like Bedford College, had been a college for women only when it was first founded. The merged institution took Royal Holloway College's premises in

Egham Egham ( ) is a university town in the Borough of Runnymede in Surrey, England, approximately west of central London. First settled in the Bronze Age, the town was under the control of Chertsey Abbey for much of the Middle Ages. In 1215, Magna ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

, just outside London, as its main campus and took on the name of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College (RHBNC). The decision to drop the Bedford name from day-to-day use caused some discontent among graduates of Bedford College, who felt that their old college had now essentially been taken over by Royal Holloway, and that Bedford College's name and history as a pioneering institution in the field of women's education were being forgotten. To give more prominence to the Bedford name, the merged college named a large, newly built library in the centre of its campus the "Bedford Library". Relations between RHUL and some of the Bedford College alumni remain somewhat strained, but many other Bedford College alumni maintain links with RHUL, supporting alumni events and other college work. Bedford College's old premises in Regent's Park is now the home of

Regent's University London Regent's University London (formerly Regent's College) is a private university located in London, England. It is part of Galileo Global Education, Europe’s largest higher education provider. Regent's University London was established in 1984 ...

Notable alumni

Rosetta Delisle Rosetta or Rashid (; ar, رشيد ' ; french: Rosette ; cop, ϯⲣⲁϣⲓⲧ ''ti-Rashit'', Ancient Greek: Βολβιτίνη ''Bolbitinē'') is a port city of the Nile Delta, east of Alexandria, in Egypt's Beheira Governorate, Beheir ...

, Social Worker * Louise Doris Adams (died 1965), president of the

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Mary Bridges-Adams Mary Jane Bridges-Adams (''née'' Daltry; 19 October 1854 – 14 January 1939) was a British educationalist, socialist, and activist. She campaigned for free, Compulsory education, compulsory, secular education for all and for free school meals. E ...

(1854–1939), English educationalist *

Shahidul Alam Shahidul Alam (born 1955) is a Bangladeshi photojournalist, teacher and social activist. He has been a photographer for more than forty years and "his photographs have been published in almost every major western media outlet". Alam founded the ...

(born 1955), Bangladeshi photographer, writer and curator *

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, English

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newsreader *

Ajahn Amaro Ajahn Amaro (born 1956) is a Theravāda Buddhist monk and teacher, and abbot of the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery at the eastern end of the Chiltern Hills in South East England. The centre, in practice as much for ordinary people as for monasti ...

(born 1956), Theravadin Buddhist monk, and abbot of the

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Catherine Ashton Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, (born 20 March 1956), is a British Labour politician who served as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and First Vice President of the Europea ...

(born 1956), High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...

) *

Janet Backhouse Janet Moira Backhouse (8 February 1938 – 3 November 2004) was an English manuscripts curator at the British Museum, and a leading authority in the field of illuminated manuscripts. Early life and education Janet Backhouse was born in Corsha ...

(1938–2004), English expert on illuminated manuscripts *

David Bellamy David James Bellamy (18 January 1933 – 11 December 2019) was an English botanist, television presenter, author and environmental campaigner. Early and personal life Bellamy was born in London to parents Winifred May (née Green) and Thoma ...

(1933–2019), English botanist and television presenter * Helen Caroline Bentwich (1892–1972), English social activist and politician *

Elizabeth Blackwell Elizabeth Blackwell (3 February 182131 May 1910) was a British physician, notable as the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, and the first woman on the Medical Register of the General Medical Council for the United Ki ...

(1821–1910), pioneer Anglo-American female physician *

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(1916–2004), British naval officer *

Joane Bowes, MBE Joane is a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 8,089, in an area of 7.32 km2. It is the birthplace of Bernardino Machado, two times President of Portugal The president of Portug ...

(1911–1981), Biochemist D.Sc. for work in leather and collagen * Mary Brazier (1904–1995), American neuroscientist *

Sophie Bryant Sophie Willock Bryant (15 February 1850, Sandymount, Dublin, – 14 August 1922, Chamonix, France) was an Anglo-Irish mathematician, educator, feminist and activist. Early life and education Bryant was born Sophie Willock in Dublin in 1850. H ...

(1850–1922), Anglo-Irish mathematician and feminist *

Anne Buck Anne Buck (14 May 1910 – 12 May 2005) was a British cultural historian and curator of dress, who established the Gallery of Costume at Platt Hall in Manchester. She was a leading scholar of dress, who was a founder member and long-time chairman o ...

(1910–2005), British cultural historian and curator of dress *

Ada Buisson Ada Buisson (26 March 1839 – 27 December 1866) was an English author and novelist remembered today for her ghost stories. Biography Ada Buisson was born in Battersea in Surrey, the third-born child of French-born merchant Jean François ( ...

(1839–1866), English author and novelist *

Margaret Busby Margaret Yvonne Busby, , Hon. FRSL (born 1944), also known as Nana Akua Ackon, is a Ghanaian-born publisher, editor, writer and broadcaster, resident in the UK. She was Britain's youngest and first black female book publisherJazzmine Breary"Let' ...

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-born publisher and writer *

Waveney Bushell Waveney Bushell (born 1928) is a Guyanese-born teacher, activist and "arguably the first Black educational psychologist in the UK". She is most notable for her role in exposing racism and inequality in the British educational system. Early life ...

, Guyanese-born educational psychologist *

Dinah Craik Dinah Maria Craik (; born Dinah Maria Mulock, often credited as Miss Mulock or Mrs. Craik; 20 April 1826 – 12 October 1887) was an English novelist and poet. She is best remembered for her novel ''John Halifax, Gentleman'', which presents the ...

(1826–1887), English novelist and poet *

Ilse Crawford Ilse Catherine Crawford (born 1962) is a British interior and furniture designer. Early life and education Crawford was born in London in 1962 to Jill Rendall and Malcom Crawford. Her father, Malcom, was the editor of ''The Sunday Times'' and ...

, English interior designer *

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(1909–1993), English and American statistician *

Evelyn Denington, Baroness Denington Evelyn Joyce Denington, Baroness Denington DBE (née Bursill; 9 August 1907 – 22 August 1998) was a British politician. She served as chair of the Stevenage Development Corporation from 1966–80 and chair of the Greater London Council from ...

(1907–1998), English politician * Peggy Duff (1910–1981), British political activist, organiser of the

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is an organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nucle ...

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(1863–1944), English traveller, artist and writer *

George Eliot Mary Ann Evans (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880; alternatively Mary Anne or Marian), known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She wro ...

(1819–1880), English novelist * Christopher Elrington (1930–2009), English historian *

Susan E. Evans Susan E. Evans is British palaeontologist and herpetologist. She is the author or co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. She received a BSc in Zoology at Bedford College in 1974, and in 1977 a PhD in vertebrate palaeon ...

, English palaeontologist and herpetologist *

Penelope Farmer Penelope Jane Farmer (born 1939) is an English fiction writer well known for children's fantasy novels. Her best-known novel is ''Charlotte Sometimes (novel), Charlotte Sometimes'' (1969), a boarding-school story that features a multiple time sli ...

(born 1939), English children's novelist * Mary Fels (1863-1953), German-born American philanthropist, suffragist, Georgist * Dame Janet Finch (born 1946), English

Vice-Chancellor A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system. In most Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth and former Commonwealth n ...

and Professor of Social Relations at

Keele University Keele University, officially known as the University of Keele, is a public research university in Keele, approximately from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire, Keele ...

1995–2010 *

Norvela Forster Norvela Felicia Forster (25 July 1931 – 30 April 1993) was a United Kingdom businesswoman, exporter and politician. Education Born in Gillingham, Kent, Forster attended South Wilts Grammar School for Girls, Salisbury, and Bedford College, Univ ...

(1931–1993), English businesswoman and politician *

Jane Gardam Jane Mary Gardam (born 11 July 1928) is an English writer of children's and adult fiction. She also writes reviews for ''The Spectator'' and ''The Telegraph'', and writes for BBC radio. She lives in Kent, Wimbledon, and Yorkshire. She has won nu ...

(born 1928), English novelist and children's writer * Miriam Violet Griffith (1911-1989) electrical engineer, technical author, expert in early

heat pumps A heat pump is a device that can heat a building (or part of a building) by transferring thermal energy from the outside using a refrigeration cycle. Many heat pumps can also operate in the opposite direction, cooling the building by removing h ...

Jean Hanson Emmeline Jean Hanson (14 November 1919 – 10 August 1973) was a biophysicist and zoologist known for her contributions to muscle research. Hanson gained her PhD in zoology from Bedford College, University of London before spending the majorit ...

(1919–1973), English biophysicist and zoologist *

Jean Henderson Jean Mary Henderson (18 December 1899 – 1 April 1997) was a British barrister and Liberal Party politician. Date of birth According to The Times newspaper obituary of Jean Henderson, she was born on 18 December 1899, but the records of the ...

(1899–1997), English barrister and Liberal Party politician * Jean Hillier, English town and country planning professor *

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(1875–1978), English inorganic chemist *

Eva Ibbotson Eva Maria Charlotte Michelle Ibbotson (née Wiesner; born 21 January 1925 – 20 October 2010) was a British novelist born in Austria to a Jewish family who fled the Nazis. She is known for her children's literature. Some of her novels for adult ...

(née Wiesner, 1925–2010), Austro-English children's author *

Alison Jaggar Alison Mary Jaggar (born September 23, 1942) is an American feminist philosopher born in England. She is College Professor of Distinction in the Philosophy and Women and Gender Studies departments at the University of Colorado, Boulder and Disting ...

(born 1942), Anglo-American philosopher and feminist professor *

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(born 1951), English rock critic * Dudley Knowles (1947–2014), English political philosopher and professor * Jean Langhorne, British biologist *

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(1901–1990), Dutch-English architect * Alice Lee (1858–1939), English mathematician *

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(1903–1971), Anglo-Irish crystallographer *

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(1828–1905), writer and editor *

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(born 1944), English civil servant and gay activist *

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(born 1961), English crossbench peer in the House of Lords *

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(born 1961), English actorRoyal Holloway, University of London
''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'', 27 July 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2008. *

Nicholas O'Shaughnessy Nicholas Jackson O'Shaughnessy is a British academic. He is professor of communications and of post- Cold War German history at Queen Mary, University of London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and C ...

, English communications professor *

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(born 1937), English publisher and campaigner for free expression *

Margaret Partridge Margaret Mary Partridge (8 April 1891 – 27 October 1967) was an electrical engineer, contractor and founder member of the Women's Engineering Society (WES) and the Electrical Association for Women (EAW). Her business worked with WES to identif ...

(1891–1967), electrical engineer, contractor, founder member of the

Women's Engineering Society The Women's Engineering Society is a United Kingdom professional learned society and networking body for women engineers, scientists and technologists. It was the first professional body set up for women working in all areas of engineering, pred ...

and the

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(1928–2016), English endocrinologist and immunologist *

(born 1934), English trade unionist *

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(1902–1975), Indian nursing matron *

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(1839–1929), English painter and daughter of

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Royal Holloway University of London. *

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Andrew Cunningham Scott Andrew Cunningham Scott (born 16 February 1952) is a British geologist, and professor emeritus at Royal Holloway University of London. He won the 2007 Gilbert H. Cady Award from the Geological Society of America for outstanding contributions to ...

(born 1952), English geologist and professor *

Joe Saward Jonathan Mark Christopher "Joe" Saward (born 14 July 1961 in London) is a British Formula One journalist. Life and career Saward was educated at Haileybury College and attained a degree in history at Bedford College, University of London. In 1 ...

(born 1961), English motor-sports journalist *

Athene Seyler Athene Seyler, CBE (31 May 188912 September 1990) was an English actress. Early life She was born in Hackney, London; her German-born grandparents moved to the United Kingdom, where her grandfather Philip Seyler was a merchant in London. Athe ...

(1889–1990), English actress and a President of RADA *

Miranda Seymour Miranda Jane Seymour (born 8 August 1948) is an English literary critic, novelist and biographer. The lives she has described have included those of Robert Graves and Mary Shelley. Seymour, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, has in r ...

(born 1948), English critic, novelist and biographer *

Jacqueline Simpson Jacqueline Simpson (born 1930) is a prolific, award-winning British researcher and author on folklore.Audrey Smith Audrey Ursula Smith (21 May 1915 – 3 June 1981) was a British cryobiologist, who discovered the use of glycerol to protect human red blood cells during freezing. Early life and education Audrey Smith was born in India on 21 May 1915, and ...

(1915–1981), English cryobiologist *

Roger Steare Roger Steare is a British ethicist and corporate philosopher. Career Steare's early career included roles as a social worker and banker, and ten years as chief executive of a recruitment company. He is now Honorary Visiting Professor of Organ ...

(born 1958), English ethicist and corporate philosopher *

Simon Thurley Simon John Thurley, (born 29 August 1962) is an English academic and architectural historian. He served as Chief Executive of English Heritage from April 2002 to May 2015. Early life and education Thurley was born in Huntingdon and grew up in G ...

(born 1962), English architectural historian *

Mavis Tiller Mavis Ada Tiller (; 25 November 1901 – 25 July 1989) was a New Zealand women's advocate, scientist and president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) from 1966 to 1970. Early life and career Tiller was born in Wellingto ...

(1901–1989), New Zealand women's advocate, scientist and president of the

National Council of Women of New Zealand , logo = National Council of Women of New Zealand logo.png , logo_size = 100px , logo_alt = , logo_caption = , image = , image_size = , alt = , capt ...

from 1966 to 1970 * Mary Treadgold (1910–2005), English novelist and children's writer *

Fred Trethewey Frederick Martyn Trethewey (born 24 January 1949) was the Archdeacon of Dudley until his retirement in September 2013. Trethewey was educated at St Austell Grammar School and Bedford College, London. He was ordained in 1978 '' Crockford's Cleric ...

(born 1949), Anglican priest and

Archdeacon of Dudley The Archdeacon of Dudley is one of two archdeacons in the Anglican Diocese of Worcester, England (the other being the Archdeacon of Worcester). History The archdeaconry of Dudley was created by Order in Council on 11 February 1921 from the Worces ...

Margaret Tuke Dame Margaret Janson Tuke (13 March 1862, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England21 February 1947, Hitchin) was a British academic and educator. She was the youngest child of the philanthropist James Hack Tuke. She was created a Dame Commander of the Ord ...

(1862–1847), English academic and educator *

Sarah Tyacke Sarah Jacqueline Tyacke, (''née'' Jeacock; born 29 September 1945) is an English historian of cartography and travel and a former librarian and archivist. From 1991 to 2005 she served as Keeper of Public Records and Chief Executive of the UK P ...

(born 1945), English historian of cartography *

Valerie Vaz Valerie Carol Marian Vaz (born 7 December 1954) is a British Labour Party politician and solicitor serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Walsall South since 2010. She served as the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons from 2016 to 202 ...

(born 1954), current Labour MP for

Walsall South (UK Parliament constituency) Walsall South is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Valerie Vaz, a member of the Labour Party. Members of Parliament Constituency profile The constituency is in the heart of an area traditio ...

Amanda Vickery Amanda Jane Vickery (born 8 December 1962) is an English historian, writer, radio and television presenter, and professor of early modern history at Queen Mary, University of London. Education and career Vickery was born in Preston, Lancashi ...

(born 1962), English historian and broadcaster *

Diana Warwick, Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe Diana Mary Warwick, Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe (born 16 July 1945) is a Labour Party (UK), Labour member of the House of Lords. Background Warwick was educated at Bedford College (London), Bedford College, University of London, BSc Sociolo ...

(born 1945), Labour member of the House of Lords *

Evelyn Whitaker Evelyn Whitaker (1844–1929) was an English children's writer, whose work was described as charming, pure and wholesome. She displays strong sensitivity to poverty and to illness. Her books were published anonymously. Background Whitaker was bo ...

(1844–1929), English children's writer *

Alex Wilkie Alex James Wilkie FRS (born 1948 in Northampton) is a British mathematician known for his contributions to model theory and logic. Previously Reader in Mathematical Logic at the University of Oxford, he was appointed to the Fielden Chair of Pur ...

(born 1948), English mathematician * Elizabeth Williams (1895–1986), English mathematician and educationist * Katharine Worth (1922–2015), English drama professor * Margaret Wright (1940–2012), British

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence. Greens believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation ...

politician *

Florence Yeldham Florence Annie Yeldham (30 October 1877 – 10 January 1945) was a British school teacher and historian of arithmetic. She supported the idea of following the history of mathematics as a motive to teach arithmetic. Early life and education Flo ...

(1877–1945), English school teacher and historian of arithmetic *

Alice Zimmern Alice Louisa Theodora Zimmern (22 September 1855 – 22 March 1939) was an English writer, translator and suffragist. Her books made a significant contribution to debate on the education and rights of women. Early years and education Zimmern wa ...

(1855–1939), English translator and suffragist

Principals

, Founder (1849–1864) then run by trustees until first principal appointed * Dame Emily Penrose, First principal (1893–1898) also Royal Holloway (1898–1907) *

Ethel Hurlbatt Ethel Hurlbatt (1 July 1866 Bickley, Kent – 22 March 1934 Tours, France) was Principal of Bedford College, University of London, and later Warden of Royal Victoria College, the women's college of McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, ...

(1898–1906) * Dame Margaret Jansen Tuke (1907–1929) *

Geraldine Emma May Jebb Geraldine Emma May Jebb CBE (1886 – 28 December 1959), known as Gem Jebb, was the daughter of Heneage Horsley Jebb and Geraldine Croker Russell. The Jebbs were a distinguished Irish family, prominent in both the Church of Ireland and the legal pr ...

CBE (1930–1951) *

Norah Lillian Penston Norah Lillian Penston (20 August 1903 – 1 February 1974) was a British botanist and academic administrator. She was principal of Bedford College, University of London, from 1951 to 1964. Early life and education Nora Penston was the daugh ...

(1951–1964) *

Elizabeth Millicent Chilver Elizabeth Leila Millicent "Sally" Chilver (née Graves; 3 August 1914 – 3 July 2014) was principal of Bedford College, University of London from 1964 to 1971 and Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford from 1971 to 1979. Background The only daughter of ...

(1964–1971), later Principal of

Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford Lady Margaret Hall (LMH) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located on the banks of the River Cherwell at Norham Gardens in north Oxford and adjacent to the University Parks. The college is more formall ...

John Nicholson Black John Nicholson Black (28 June 1922 – 6 October 2018) was Principal of Bedford College, London from 1971-81. Education John Nicholson Black was educated at Rugby School and Exeter College, Oxford. Career He did war service with the RAF fr ...

(1971–1981) *

Dorothy Wedderburn Dorothy Enid Wedderburn (née Barnard, formerly Cole; 18 September 1925 – 20 September 2012)History of Royal Holloway and Bedford New CollegeRoyal Holloway, University of London ArchivesGenesis website page on Bedford College's archived papersGenesis website page on Elizabeth Jesser Reid's archived papersNotable Alumnae
webpage of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College
Bedford College student listsBedford College in World Ward II
accessed 27 May 2012 {{Authority control Royal Holloway, University of London Former colleges of the University of London Former women's universities and colleges in the United Kingdom Educational institutions established in 1849 Educational institutions disestablished in 1985 1849 establishments in England Regent's Park