Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A naval college set up in 1922 at Ingress Abbey. It expanded in the 1970’s with a set of new buildings constructed for class rooms, administration, staff and cadet accommodation and recreation. All were constructed of cast concrete, concrete blocks, timber and large windows. The design was very much of the time, although parts of the main building and cadet accommodation were designed to be reminiscent of a ship. The college closed in 1989 and the buildings, except for the Abbey, have been demolished to make way for a new housing development.

Monument Types

• NAVAL COLLEGE (Closed, Modern - 1922 AD to 1989 AD (between))

Full description

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In 1992 Thames Nautical Training College (ITNTC) purchased Ingress Abbey Estate and the Abbey (TQ 57 NE 93) was turned over to use as accommodation, offices, library, chapel and other facilities.

In the late 1960’s the site was leased to the Greater London Council (GLC) and the college expanded. New buildings were constructed by the GLC in the early to mid 1970’s to designs drawn up by Hubert Bennett FRIBA of the GLC and Inner London Education Authority Department of Architecture and Civic Design. The designs included a main/teaching block, two blocks of cadet accommodation, houses for the principal and instructors, domestic staff block, and a boathouse. The main/teaching block was further extended, along with other external works, in 1979 to designs by Sir Roger Walters KBE FIBA. The college was run by the ILEA until 1989 when the college closed. The modern college buildings, other than the Abbey, have all been demolished to make way for housing.

The site was built on a terrace and made up five main buildings, all constructed of cast concrete, concrete blocks, timber and large windows. All though very much of the time, parts of the main building and cadet accommodation were designed to be reminiscent of a ship. (2)

<1> Essex County Council, 2003, Aggregates Levy Survey Industrial Sites (Unpublished document). SKE12009.

<2> AOC Archaeology Group, 1999, Naval College, Greenhithe, Kent Historic Building Record (Draft) (Unpublished document). SKE12259.

Sources and further reading

Related records