Northern Polytechnic Institute (1896-1971)

 The origins of the Northern Polytechnic lie in the Charity Commissioners' scheme of the 1880s to develop a network of polytechnics modelled on the Regent Street Polytechnic (now part of the University of Westminster).

Initially intended as the Northern Technical and Recreative Institute, the Northern Polytechnic Institute in Holloway, North London, opened on 5 October 1896. Its mission was 'to promote the industrial skill, general knowledge, health and well-being of young men and women....(and)... the means of acquiring a sound General, Scientific, Technical and Commercial Education at small cost.'

Funds for the setting-up of the Polytechnic came from an annual maintenance grant from the City Parochial Foundation (ca. £1500 p.a.), a substantial donation from the Clothworkers’ Company (ca. £17,500) plus individual donations (totalling some £13,500).In the first year, a thousand students enrolled on courses ranging from English, mathematics and chemistry to machine construction, plumbing, dressmaking and millinery, mostly in evening classes. By 1900 the number of students had doubled, and by 1911 five-year evening degrees were available, recognised by the University of London.

It changed its name to the Northern Polytechnic in ca.1925.The Northern Polytechnic introduced polymer science courses at the turn of the 20th Century and developed an expertise in rubber technology. In 1948 the Northern Polytechnic was appointed as the National College of Rubber Technology, where it enjoyed a strong reputation for teaching and research.

In 1982 the College merged with the Polytechnic of the South Bank's Polymer School to form the PNL (later UNL) School of Polymer Technology.

From ca. 1911, the Polytechnic’s Great Hall was a well-patronised centre of local entertainment. The hall was opened by the Lord Mayor of London in July 1897, with seating for 1,300 and a very fine, four-manual pipe organ that had been provided by Mr H.A. Tufnell – of the family that gives Tufnell Park its name – who was a member of the governing body of the Polytechnic.

There were regular programmes offered by the Operatic Society, the Modern Symphony Orchestra (‘Modern’, as every programme included at least one new or contemporary work) and the Repertory Company. The repertoires of all of these companies were extensive and the performances –according to newspaper cuttings of the time –were of a high standard. These were all popularly supported until the advent of television, when audiences gradually began to fall away; however, in its heyday, performances –particularly those of the Operatic Society – were so successful that in addition to covering costs, significant amounts were raised for charitable causes, including a total of £2,000 during the First World War for wartime charities.

On 26 January1971, as more polytechnics were designated, it was decided that the Northern and North Western polytechnics should merge to form the Polytechnic of North London (PNL), with degrees awarded by the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA).

PNL gained University status by the Further and Higher Education Act of that year and became the University of North London (UNL). Ten years later, on 1st August 2002, UNL merged with London Guildhall University to form the institution as it is known today, London Metropolitan University.