Calendar: 1926-1927 Page 29

A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF KING'S COLLEGE 27 an old building formerly workhouse in Portugal-street but in 1861 at cost of more than £100 000 the Hospital was erected It was built in accordance with the latest theory in Hospital construction and when completed was looked upon as the model Hospital for London Although one of the fundamental principles of the College was instruction in religious knowledge side by side with the highest form of secular education it was not until 1847 that Theological Department was founded having for its object the preparation both of Graduates and non-Graduates for Holy Orders The next development of the College was the formation of the Evening Classes in 1856 This was the first effort made in London to supply classes of definitely University type for the benefit of those whose time during the day was occupied in earning their living They were at once found to supply need they rapidly in- creased in numbers and in efficiency and remained one of the largest Departments of the College until the competition of the Polytechnics richly endowed with public money and offering advan- tages at very much lower fees almost destroyed them Recently they have been revived on somewhat different lines the College confining itself to work for University Degrees to Post-Graduate work and certain special classes The formation of Evening Classes of University character was followed by another departure less in accordance with the original purposes of the College Classes were formed to prepare for the examinations for the Home Civil Service Although it may be doubted whether it was wise for the College to undertake the work there can be no doubt that the Classes met need and that there were great advantages in an institution of public and responsible character providing preparation for these examinations The Day Classes were organized into regular school Strand School which when King's College School was removed to Wimbledon was located in the buildings it had vacated and this rapidly became an impor- tant London Secondary School It has now been taken over by the London County Council and removed to Brixton It has been recognized and receives grant from the Board of Education The Civil Service Department Evening was closed in 1912 Oriental Languages and Literature had been taught since the opening of the College Professor Seddon was appointed in 1833 and was succeeded by Professor Duncan Forbes Chinese and Arabic were taught from 1847 and 1854 respectively but in 1861 definite Oriental Section was formed to meet the wants of candidates for the Indian Civil Service For some years it was successful but eventually the conditions of the Examination for the Indian Civil Service as they then existed led to the pri- vate tutor obtaining the monopoly of the training In 1889 together with University College King's College united with the Imperial Institute in forming joint School of Oriental Languages