Denman College Report by Leila Ladd

 

It was an early morning start to catch the 8am National Express Coach Service from Louth to Oxford . A good journey with a change at Leicester – time for a coffee and sandwich and other necessary visits. A reduced fare of £20 using the voucher system available from Denman in conjunction with National Express. At Oxford we were met with a taxi and whisked to Denman, arriving at 2.45pm.

Friendly Denman staff welcomed us and took us to our room in Willow Cottage, namely Buckinghamshire, on the ground floor. A delightful room in primrose and blue, plenty of room and a large bathroom, normally intended for a wheelchair guest and carer.

 

 

 

 

Tea at 4.15, and then at 6.30 an introduction to Denman. A 30 strong choir from Radnor in Wales were among the visitors. After dinner (the food was very good) it was down to work. Our tutor was Katherine Bradley and the course: “ Life in the Villa and Cottage: a Social History of the 19 th and 20 th Century Housing” This first class was a general introduction to the period. We came to know the other 7 members on the course quite well – a friendly group.

 

  After breakfast it was on with the course – Housing conditions for working class women in the 19 th century. Many poor people slept in the cellars all crouched together including their prized possession – a pig! Families were large. After coffee, “the suburban villa – architecture and design – back to back buildings to semi-detached, The Arts & Crafts Movement. A lively discussion took place.

In the afternoon there was an optional tour of the college – well worth taking. The college itself is a Regency building with a beautiful staircase and rooms with high ceilings and pleasingly adapted to bedrooms. Then onto the Garden Suburb Movement, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Port Sunlight, Bourneville and latterly Milton Keynes . Much discussion over the merits of this Movement. Until dinner we discussed Living in urban areas in the first half of the 20 th century – semi –detached housing, terrace housing and detached housing.

 

The final class on Saturday evening was “The role of women housing reformers”, namely, Octavia Hill the Fawcett Society etc. The rest of Saturday evening was down to entertainment. The choir from the Radnor Federation in Powys entertained us with songs, poetry and a dance and song routine, and then we all joined in a sing-a-long. A good time was had by all. I recommend it to all our members.