Programme for an event opening a new wing of CEM’s premises. The new wing was the addition of 20 Portugal Street to the existing 19 Portugal Street and 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields site, to add new lecture halls and administrative rooms.

Post-Blitz outward view from CEM’s 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields premises, 1941

Photograph of the post deparmental at CEM’s premises in 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields site, post-Blitz

Photograph, featuring future Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, at the opening of a new wing at CEM, October 1927. At this time, Chamberlain was the Minister for Health in the Conservative government. He had previously worked on the Unhealthy Areas Committee (1919-21) and tried to improve the slums of London and Birmingham, an interest which led to him accepting the Minister for Health role and would explain why he visited CEM. From 1937, he was Prime Minister, most famous for his policy of appeasement towards Hitler. The New Wing being celebrated in this photograph was the addition of 20 Portugal Street to the existing 19 Portugal Street and 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields site, to add new lecture halls and administrative rooms.

Photograph of the post deparmental at CEM’s premises in 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields site, pre-Blitz

An advert for the sale of Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Portugal Street premises, June 3rd 1920, which would eventually become CEM’s premises.

A drawing of 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields site by Mr Hanslip Fletcher, featured in an article in The Times on 27 June 1943, reporting that the Lincoln’s Inn frontage of the premises mostly survived the Blitz bomb raid on 10 May  1941. The article reports that extensive damage was done to the Portugal Street side of the building.

Drawing of the entrance hall at CEM’s 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields premises.

Following CEM’s temporary relocation to 11 Great George Street following the destruction of 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields during the Blitz, the ruins of 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields were adopted by the National Fire Service, who established a ‘Pig Club’. At one point, there were 36 pigs being reared in the ruins, as well as cockerels and rabbits. The firemen were raising and selling the animals to help to supplement wartime rations. This article is from the Picture Post, 03 April 1943. Picture Post was the UK’s equivalent of Life magazine, and in 1943 it had a circulation of nearly 2 million a week.

35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields after an incendiary raid during the Blitz. The building was damaged by enemy action in the Autumn of 1940, before being devastated by incendiary bombs in the Spring of 1941. The destroyed building led to CEM being temporarily rehomed at 11 Great George Street for the duration of the war.

A copy of the Estates Gazette from 14 April 1923, reporting on CEM’s inaugural ceremony. CEM’s first President and Principal are pictured.

This British Red Cross replica book parcel is how CEM correspondence courses would have been sent to students in Prisoner of War and internment camps. The red cross emblem is a special protective sign used during armed conflicts, and its use is restricted by law. For further information, please see the emblem page on www.redcross.org.uk or contact the British Red Cross International Law Department at contactus@redcross.org.uk.

Irene Barclay, Britain’s first female Chartered Surveyor, who studied for her professional examinations with CEM.

CEM’s Letters Patent (Royal Charter), 1922.

Portrait of Colonel S.J. Worsley, who was appointed CEM’s Principal in 1945.

Wrought iron staircase currently at the V&A Museum, having been bequeathed by CEM in 1921. The staircase was originally in situ at 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

This article, titled “Careers in Captivity – Seizing the Opportunity for Studying”, was published in the Prisoner of War magazine in May 1942 – a magazine that was published by the Red Cross for families of POW.

A selection of photos taken at a cricket match at Hinchley Wood in June 1965.

An article in the Estates Gazette supplement from 05 March 1910 titled ‘Surveyors in the Making’ about ‘Famous Westminster Coaching Centre’ Parry, Adkin and Parry. This was, of course, the pre-cursor to CEM’s founding in 1919.

Student register listing WW2 POW students, 1943-44.

Photo of POWs studying in POW camp, Stalag XXA, located in Poland.

A collection of photographs of The Cemian student magazine from the 1960s/70s.

A photograph of the student register, 1921-2. Having acquired funding, premises and staff following its founding in 1919, CEM commenced full tutorial work on 01 April 1921.  In the academic year 1921-2, CEM had 11 full time students, 184 evening class students, and 615 postal students.

CEM Students’ Union Colours Awards, 1940s – 1960s. These awards were for a range of sports, from cricket to rifles, from rowing to rugby (or ‘ruggers’, as it is listed on one of the pages). These Students’ Union Colours Awards illustrate how broad and social life at CEM was across the decades. In addition to sporting activities, the Students’ Union had a Motor Club, Sailing Club, Debating and Literary Society, and Photographic, Gramophone, Jazz and Musical Societies.

Programme from CEM’s inaugural ceremony, hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales, 10 April 1923.