The Settlement was founded in 1887 as part of the high church movement from Oxford and Cambridge to tackle the problem of the Victorian Inner City.
Based at 129 Kennington Road in North Lambeth the Settlement was one of a number of local initiatives in South East London. The Women’s University Settlement (Blackfriars) from which LMHS grew, and Cambridge House and Talbot in Southwark paralleled the developments at Toynbee Hall and Oxford House in the east end.
Early work relied on residential volunteers from the college or through extended Anglican family networks. They worked in the various local parishes and in the Salamanca Mission boys and girls club, and increasingly through the local Charity Organisation Society (COS). Projects included work with children unable to go to school and developing the Invalid Children’s Association. Within a few months the Settlement was looking to expand into neighbouring properties. With the creation of the 1902 education act the Settlement worked to establish the School of Sociology which later amalgamated with the LSE to train social workers. The Settlement played an active part housing students during their training. The Settlement also ran the North Lambeth Apprenticeships and skilled employment committee, and worked on the development of training for hospital almoners. This led to the 1st national conference of health visitors. During this period many public schools became involved in volunteer work, ‘Queens College Harley Street for example supported the Settlements work for many years. The Settlement also built a close working relationship with Morley College and with the Lambeth W F A. |
