Buildings in London: Mary Ward House

Image © Martin Charles

Mary Ward House

Tavistock Place
London
WC1

The settlement is no longer at Tavistock Place, but can be contacted at http://www.marywardcentre.ac.uk

Mary Ward House was built in 1898 by the architectural firm of Smith & Brewer. The building was designed by A. Dunbar Smith and Cecil Brewer and is distinctly Arts and Crafts in style. A plain brick façade is combined with a stone entrance and the irregular placement of windows reflects the path of the staircase behind them.

Originally known as the Passmore Edwards Settlement, the building housed the first fully equipped classrooms for children with disabilities and pioneered the importance of play within children's education. The founder was the romantic novelist Mary Ward and the philanthropist John Passmore Edwards provided the funding. Interestingly, given her interest in social welfare, Mary Ward was the first president of the Anti-Suffrage League, which campaigned against the vote for women.