“A palatial dwelling!” That’s how Avery Hill House, now part of the University of Greenwich Avery Hill Campus, was once described. This area, mainly in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, holds a fascinating history. It even extends into the London Borough of Bexley.
Avery Hill got its name from an aviary that used to be here. The heart of this campus is Avery Hill House. John Thomas North built it. He made his fortune in Chile. His business was sodium nitrate.
After North’s death, the London County Council acquired the house. That was in 1902. They extended the grounds. This created Avery Hill Park in 1903. In 1906, North’s house became Avery Hill College of Education. Two neighbouring buildings were later added.
Within a year, it became the largest teacher training college of the LCC. It was often oversubscribed. In 79 years, it trained over 15,000 teachers. In 1985, the college merged with Thames Polytechnic. In 1993, it was renamed the University of Greenwich.
The University of Greenwich Avery Hill Campus also has facilities at the Southwood site nearby. The university planned to leave the Mansion site in summer 2020. A Harris Academy boys’ secondary school was planned to open in 2022.
The house boasts an indoor winter garden. It is the second largest Victorian glasshouse in the UK. Only Kew Gardens’ Temperate House is bigger. It was part of an extensive and expensive garden. These gardens were built for a private house. In the early 21st century, the Winter Garden fell into neglect. A campaign was started to restore it. The aim was to protect the Mansion’s heritage and open it to the public.
Since 2010, Avery Hill Park has hosted a Parkrun on Saturdays. The University of Greenwich Avery Hill Campus is evolving. In 2019, the university committed to transforming the campus. They wanted to make it a more accessible environment. The goal was to enable teaching, learning, and socializing. All this would take place in a vibrant modern campus.
The University of Greenwich Avery Hill Campus now features a new modern library. It offers many teaching and learning resources. There are bookable study spaces. One is a silent study space. There is also an Academic Skills Hub. Some teaching spaces have been upgraded. This includes a new art and design room.
The campus houses a clinical skills and simulation centre. It includes a complex teaching space. The Clinical Skills Labs feature simulated hospital ward areas. These create a realistic environment for students. The space also has consulting rooms. Lifelike clinical skills manikins are used. They can breathe, have pulses, and bleed. They can even talk and undergo medical procedures.
Sparrows Farm provides stimulation spaces for paramedic and nursing students. One is a flat for community nursing practice. Sparrows Farm also has a strength and conditioning area for sports science students.
The Greenwich Students’ Union is at the heart of the Avery Hill community. Their home is in The Dome. The Tudor Café sells takeaway food, coffee, and snacks. The Union has always supported students. It advocates for things that improve the student experience.
From its beginnings as a grand house to its role as a modern university campus, the University of Greenwich Avery Hill Campus has a rich story. It continues to evolve and serve its community.