It was established in 1896 by the London County Council as the Central School of Arts and Crafts.

[2] The Central School of Arts and Crafts was established in 1896 by the London County Council.

It grew directly from the Arts and Crafts movement of William Morris and John Ruskin.

The first principal – from 1896 to 1900 as co-principal with George Frampton – was the architect William Richard Lethaby, from 1896 until 1912;[3] a blue plaque in his memory was erected in 1957.

[3] The school was at first housed in Morley Hall, rented from the Regent Street Polytechnic.