| Individual or organisational biography | On 2 October 1893 the Guild and Technical School began teaching printing classes at the Society’s premises at 35 Clerkenwell Road with the aims of enhancing the skills of engravers and lithographers. The school was founded and funded by National Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers and Writers, Copperplate and Wood Engravers members. The society had acknowledged for over a decade the need to provide its member with a school to enhance and upkeep their technical knowledge and skillsets. The society recognised the lowering wages, poor and fluctuating quality of printing work and sought to help its members. In 1895, the school was re-named to Bolt Court Technical School, when the School moved to bigger more suitable premises at 6 Bolt Court. Originally the school was free, upkept by members kindness and donations, students were taught by volunteer teachers. The school provided evening classes. Shortly after, in 1897 it provided its first day classes. Jurisidiction then passed to London County Council in 1900 and it was renamed London County Council School of Photoengraving and Lithography, Bolt Court. However, despite the official change the School was referred to as Bolt Court until 1949 when Bolt Court and the London School of Printing and Kindred Trades merged to form the London School of Printing and Graphic Arts. Bolt Court School had undergone several changes over time. 6 Bolt Court was re-built in 1911 and re-opened in 1912, to allow for growth and modernisation of teaching and learning spaces. Bolt Court had a number of early Principals who crafted the School's subject areas and teaching methods:
Charles W Gamble, Principal from 1897-1902,
A J Newton, Principal from 1902-1912,
A J Bull, Principal from 1912-1946,
Herbert Mills Cartwright, Principal and Head of Composing Department from 1946-1953 with Carwright remaining Head of Composing for 4 years after Bolt Court's amalgamation with the London School of Printing.
St Bride's Foundation Institute, Bride Lane, Fleet Street was founded 1883 and, in November 1894 opened its Printing School, to teach part-time courses, it was re-named London School of Printing and Kindred Trades in 1922 when it came under the London County Council's direct jurisdiction and moved to 61 Stamford Street [extended 1933]. In 1894 the Foundation had approximately 124 evening class students and evening classes were a major part of the Foundations activities. The aims were to provide technical printing schools, reading and lecture rooms and swimming and wash baths. In 1911 they appointed their first full-time Principal, John Robertson 'J.R.' Riddell who instigated a move from text book based learning to practical teaching. The first full-time courses began in 1919.
In 1922 the St Brides Foundation Printing School was re-named the London School of Printing and Kindred Trades when it too came under the London County Council's direct jurisdiction. In 1949 Bolt Court and the London School of Printing merged forming the London School of Printing and Graphic Arts.
The North-Western Polytechnic was opened by HRH The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) at Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town in 1929. The North-Western was the largest polytechnic in London. In 1967 the Printing Department of the Polytechnic was transferred to London College of Printing becoming part of the college.
The College for Distributive Trades was a technical training college in London. It was founded as the Westminster Day Continuation School in 1921. Around 1950 it was renamed the Westminster College of Distributive Trades, later adopting the name the College of Distributive Trades. During the early 1960s the Smithfield College, formerly Smithfield Meat Trades Institute, appears to have merged with the College. In 1986 it became part of the newly formed London Institute. In 1990 it was merged with the London College of Printing to form the London College of Printing and Distributive Trades. Before merging with LCP it was based at 30 Leicester Square and had departments in Display, Food Commodities, Management, Marketing and Advertising and Merchandising.
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