[3] Founded in 1854 the college was established in Oakley Square by Christian Socialists to provide for Victorian skilled artisans a liberal education, with its ethical focus countering what its founders saw as failings and corruption in the practices of trade self-help associations of the time.

Notable early promoters and supporters of the college and its foundation were Edward Vansittart Neale, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Ruskin,[7] Charles Blachford Mansfield,[8] John Stuart Mill, James Clerk Maxwell, and Charles Kingsley (author of The Water-Babies), while later ones included G.M.

As a result, F. D. Maurice with Frances Martin helped to set up the College for Working Women in Fitzroy Street in 1874.

The minority who supported this college included George and Amelia Tansley, Llewellyn Davies, and Sir John Lubbock.

The decision to admit women was an expression of what was seen by the college as its unique and progressive historic feature: educational and financial management through a democratically elected Council of teachers and students.

[4] Teachers, (who were unpaid volunteer professionals in their field,) and students were both considered as, and called, Members of College as a mark of equality and respect.

[4] During the 1970s the college introduced and increased a number of certificated courses, and by the beginning of the 1980s there were successful moves to change the voluntary tradition by remunerating teachers.

Where previously it supported itself mostly from interest on donations as investments, by the late 1980s it felt obliged to seek government financial aid.

[11] The college opened at 31 Red Lion Square, later moving to Great Ormond Street[12][13] in 1857, both in Central London.

By the 1890s, the demand for more space through increased student numbers, and competition from other institutions such as Evening Continuation Schools and early Polytechnics, created a need for greater accommodation, and a desire for facilities such as a museum, gymnasium and chemistry laboratory.

The college developed a new building at Crowndale Road on a site purchased from Lord Camden; begun in July 1904, and partly occupied in 1905, it was formally opened by Sir William Anson in January 1906.

Specialist rooms such as science laboratories art and craft studios, lecture theatre, and a gymnasium were added in the 1930s, reflecting a desire to provide a broad educational experience.

[15] During the 20th century this room, with a Servery for refreshment, provided a focus for College Members to meet, read, discuss, prepare for class, eat, and occasionally hold impromptu public debates.

Over the years, the college held societies covering activities and subjects such as boxing, cricket, debating, economics, football, geology, singing, chess, draughts, rowing, history, natural history, old students, modern languages, language interpretation, railways, walking, sketching, holidays, wireless, music, and science.

Up to the late–1980s, a September Teachers' Supper was held in The Common Room hosted by the Principal; there was a talk from a guest speaker followed by debate.

The Common Room, which ceased to be such in its original sense, was split, one half to house a Centre for Student Affairs for enrolment and other administration.