Catalogue description National Training College of Domestic Subjects and predecessors: Papers and Registers

The National Training School of Cookery was established in 1873, and commenced its work at South Kensington in 1874 'with a view to promote generally the diffusion of a knowledge of cookery amongst all classes of Her Majesty's subjects'.

By 1889 it had become necessary, owing to expansion, to move the school to larger premises, and these were taken in Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1. In course of time, the subjects of needlework, dressmaking, millinery, laundrywork and housewifery were added as a minor part of the school teaching programme.

This change of object, led in 1902, to an amendment in the school title to 'The National Training School of Cookery and Other Branches of Domestic Economy'.

It was not until 1931 that this title was modified to its final form, viz: 'The National Training College of Domestic Subjects'. There followed in the latter years a series of financial crises which were the main reason for the ultimate closure of the college on 12 July 1962.

The college, which in 1888 was licensed, with limited liability, by the Board of Trade under Section 23 of the Companies Act 1867, retained its voluntary status throughout its lifetime.

When it had become clear that the closure of the college was unavoidable an educational trust was set up on 22 July 1961 to be known as 'The National Training College (founded 1873) of Domestic Subjects Trust'.