Whitelands College, later known as The Black House, Kings Road, Chelsea
The Black House, a former women's teacher training college, was situated in the Kings Road in the London Borough of Chelsea.
The first building to occupy the site was Whitelands House, a girl's boarding school which opened in 1772.
In 1841 Whitelands House became a teacher training college for women. Founded by the Church of England, it was the first college of higher education in the UK to admit women.
A tradition which began in 1881, at the instigation of the Victorian philanthropist John Ruskin, was a May Day Festival of Flowers which included the enthroning of a May Queen.
Ethel Haydon, Queen of the May, Whitelands College 1898
More information on the college's May Day Festivals and pictures of the May Queens throughout the years can be found here and here.
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A rare view of the Courtyard. Blackshirts drive a car bearing their insignia
View of Whitelands House in 1890 before it was rebuilt
Whitelands House was demolished and rebuilt in 1891 due to the increasing number of students. After it was rebuilt it was renamed Whitelands College. In 1930, the college moved to buildings in Southfields, near Putney, leaving the building in Kings Road empty.
The building remained empty until the autumn of 1933 when the lease was purchased by the British Union of Fascists and it became their National Headquarters. The new Headquarters became known as the Black House and it contained extensive offices, dormitories, gyms, dining hall, mess room and parade ground. Also based at the Black House was the "I" Squad - the full time mobile defence force commanded by Eric Hamilton Piercy.
The Black House, N.H.Q. of the B.U.F. (image - Youtube)
B.U.F. members outside the Black House (image - Youtube)
Blackshirts entering the Black House give the Fascist salute ( image - Youtube)
Fascism is Practical Patriotism Poster (image - Youtube)
A rare view of the Courtyard. Blackshirts drive a car bearing their insignia
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September 1933, Blackshirts stand guard at the entrance
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September 1933, BlackShirts lined up for inspection in one of the dormitories
In June 1935 the B.U.F. moved from their Black House N.H.Q. to offices at Sanctuary Buildings in Great Smith Street, Westminster. These were retained until the Movement was banned in 1940.
As for the Black House, the building was demolished and replaced by flats in 1935.
