This school, rated by the local historian Ms Denny as 'one of Fulham's most prestigious educational institutions', incorporates three of the older houses here on Parsons Green. They are Elm House, Belfield, which was the school's first premises when it opened in 1917, and Henniker House. The facades of Belfield and Elm House have been retained as they were when taken over and re-arranged internally. The school was started by Miss Enid Moberly Bell who had led a campaign to revive the facilities for teaching practice that had been provided by Whitelands Training College in Chelsea which had been closed. Belfield was bought for £2,250 and after substantial conversion works was opened by Princess Marie Louise in December 1917. Belfield had a renowned tenant at one time in the person of Mrs Jordan (nee Dorothy Bland 1761-1816) who was, for many years, the mistress of the then Duke of Clarence (1765-1837) who became William IV.

O/S Co-ords:2512.7653
Source(s):

A History of Fulham