Sir John Cass Technical Institute (1902-1950)

Sir John Cass (1666-1718) was a City of London politician and builder, who founded a charity school near St. Botolph's, Aldgate (which opened in 1710) and left £1000 in his will of 1709 to endow another school in Hackney. His charity continued to fund the Sir John Cass Foundation School as well as providing for the establishment of the Sir John Cass Technical Institute (which was founded in 1899 in response to the Charity Commissioner’s Scheme of 1895).

The Institute moved into newly built premises at 31 Jewry Street, London, and in 1902 it opened its doors to students. Courses covered aspects science, arts and crafts and commerce, together with practical tailoring and cutting for the boys and domestic economy for the girls, including cookery, laundry work and dressmaking.Day and evening classes were offered on both a full-time and part-time basis, and fees were reduced for ex-pupils of the Cass School. A nautical school was established in 1927 for seagoing apprentices and navigating officers preparing for the Board of Trade examinations.

Between the wars saw a rapid improvement in advanced and postgraduate work and the introduction of courses for external University of London degrees. During World War II, only evening courses were run and this allowed staff to carry out research during the day.

The main building on Jewry Street was extended in 1934 and the Institute’s name was changed in 1950 to the Sir John Cass College, in recognition of the broadening provision of courses, some of which were entirely of University standard.