St Gabriel's College,Cormont Road, Camberwell 1928-1930

An upload of some photographs found in an album that belonged to my Grandmother and taken when she was a student at St Gabriel's teacher training college from 1928-1930.This is the second attempt,as this film making is new to me,so bear with the quality!
The college as my Grandmother knew it was much the same as when it opened in about 1900,and was still run on Victorian lines.I always recall my Gran saying that no men other than clergy were allowed in,including fathers and brothers.She would mimic an imperious voice and say,"one girls brother is not every girls brother"!
A strong emphasis was placed on religion at the college with regular attendance at the college chapel expected.Lectures were held in the mornings and late afternoon-evenings.The time off in the afternoon could be spent walking to Brixton to the shops,or catching a penny bus ride to London proper,and making a cup of tea and bun last as long as possible at a Lyons corner house.My Grandmas mother would send a parcel of food suitable for a picnic if the weather was good,boiled eggs,cake etc,and they would sit in Myotts park opposite and have a pic-nic.
Unlike students today,they were all very innocent,and appear to have been a sweet natured lot.Each new student was assigned a "mother",i.e a second year student to help them settle in.My Grandma was from Stockton On Tees and she said that the college liked northern girls for some reason.Special dispensation had to be asked for to stay out later than the usual 8 o'clock,and it was only given till ten at the latest and it had to be for something such as a classical concert,not the cinema or dancing(though these were held in the college,but girls only).
The wildest thing they did was to post chip wrappers in the post box after returning back one night!!
My grandma said how pleasant the area was back then,and i recall when the Brixton riots occurred,her sadness at how the area had changed.
It is quite moving to think these young girls are now all gone,my Nan i think the last to go in 2008 age 98.She kept in touch with a few fellow students up until their deaths.They must have taught hundreds of children in there careers,my nan teaching infants from 1930-1969.The college was bombed in the war and altered when rebuilt.I would like to know if the street scene included,taken from the college fire escape is much altered?
The college closed in 1978 and then became a seminary for some time before recently being converted into smart apartments called St Gabriel's Manor.
I would have preferred a more choral backing music to this but as i said this is new to me and the track by Van Phillips band from 1930 was all i had saved that was suitable,but does add period atmosphere,and is a lovely tune.
I wanted to try a little film,and hope others with links to the college or area will find this of interest.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Camberwell
• london
• st.Gabriel's
• 1930
• teacher
• training
• college

[melaniejh1]

Thank you so much for this. It is beautiful (and the music is perfect). I love the wonderful personal and intimate history that you give in this; really evocative.

It is especially great for me as I now live in the building; (converted into flats in the mid 1990's). I can even see what is now my flat in one of the photos but sadly no fountains any more.

A brilliant tribute to an era, to a personal history and to a building which is still beautiful and much loved. Thank you so much.

[mic33george]

@melaniejh1 So glad you have found this of interest and you tube stopped this album sitting in a drawer for another 30 years!The fountains i have only found out recently from a 1927 colour film of London thats on here,are in the Old Dutch Garden in Kensington Gardens-i too thought they were in the college grounds.Thanks for the kind message

[Prozoot]

WOW! ....this is such a beautiful video! It transports me to a time and place I could never know. Your audio is excellent -- great sound, and wonderful photos. Hope you do more posts like this. Ten stars!!!

[mic33george]

@Prozoot Many thanks for such a nice comment.The audio was a 78 remastered by stjn00 which he kindly sent me and was the only suitable music i had to use,so praise goes to him.I do intend to try and do some remastering with added photos,as i have a whole 20s 30s snapshot album that was my nans.

[MarkuPro]

this may sound weird but those old classic songs make me almost cry for none reason, this is my first hearing those song but make me pretty sad. lol

[mic33george]

I have had exactly the same reaction!

[SpringtimeSkies129]

Michael,

I am so glad I found this. What a treasure these photographs are and so many wonderful memories of your Grandmother. The music is just right for this and I agree with Cynisca that the sadness comes from the longing for what is lost.

This reminded me of how I miss my parents and the good time we had.

Thank you for this superb glimpse of the better days.

[Cynisca]

@MarkuPro

I do sometimes, because it reminds me of my parents and grandparents, as well as a past that has been lost.

The sadness is the part of us longing for something no longer in this world.

[Cynisca]

A lovely glimpse into another era.

So much has changed and not always for the better.

Thank you for this video...and the music was perfect...!

[jackpaynefan]

Photographs are a mirror into the past. I feel like I have been transported back to a more harmonious era. What a novel and intriguing upload!

I looked on Google sreet map to see what it looks like today. - prefer your pictures.

I find the music rather poignant. Five well deserved stars for content, text and music.