Description
Richmond University was originally built as the Southern Branch of the Theological Institution, which opened here in 1843. From 1869-85 it became a Methodist training school for missionaries. During WWI it housed Westminster Training College and later became the administrative headquarters of the University of London. The college closed in 1972 and was sold in 1976 to become the London campus of the American Institute for Foreign Study, later named Richmond University, The American International University in London. The C19th college is an imposing building overlooking lawns, with shrubbery and mature trees that form its setting. Originally the college grounds were larger but when it ceased to be used as a Methodist training school, the site was reduced in size. The American University vacated the site in 2022, moving to a new campus in Chiswick, and the property is currently offered for sale.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Southern Branch of the Theological Institution; Westminster Training College; Richmond Methodist Training College |
|---|---|
| Site location | Queen's Road, Richmond |
| Postcode | TW10 6JP |
| What3Words | ///freed.topic.atoms |
| Type of Site | Institutional Grounds |
| Borough | Richmond |
| Open to Public | No |
| Public Transport | Train/tube: Richmond (District; London Overground; National Rail) then bus. Bus: 376 |
| Research Updated | 31 October 2022 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Richmond University opened as the Southern Branch of the Theological Institution in 1843, and was built in part with proceeds of the latter's Centenary Fund, which had been established to celebrate the centenary of the first Methodist societies in 1739. The architect was James Wilson of Bath (although HE listing gives A Trimmer?). It was sold to the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and from 1869 to 1885 was a training college for missionaries preparing for work overseas. Its first Theological Tutor (from 1843 to 1861) was Thomas Jackson, and among his successors were J. Agar Beet (1885-1905), W.T Davison (1905-15) and C. Ryder Smith (1920-32). Its students included many future Presidents, such as W. Morley Punshon and Hugh Price Hughes. During WWI the building was used by Westminster Training College and in WWII it became the administrative headquarters of the University of London, with which it had developed important links through theological education. Originally the college site was larger but when it ceased to be used as a Methodist training school, it was reduced in size with part occupied by the Vineyard School; a block of flats on Friars Stile Road is located where a chapel and gatehouse once stood.
The college was a victim of cuts in the 1960s and closed in 1972. It was sold in 1976 to become Richmond University, the London campus of the American Institute for Foreign Study. This had been founded in 1972 by social entrepreneur and politician Cyril Taylor, who was chairman of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), which had already used the college for a number of years for its London study abroad programmes. AIFS purchased half of the 10-acre site for £300,000 including the majority of its buildings and front lawns to form a new American liberal arts college, which came to be called Richmond University. A second campus was opened on St Albans Grove and Ansdell Street in Kensington in 1978 for third and fourth year students as well as the college's US Study Abroad Programme. The American University remained in Richmond until 2022 and the property is currently up for sale.
Even though the site is now smaller than at the time it was laid out, it is still of a significant size for the area, when other large estates including the old workhouse on the opposite side of Queens Road have been broken up for residential redevelopment. The grounds include a number of well-grown trees and have been identified as a Candidate site for survey in the Review of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation in Richmond upon Thames by Salix Ecology in November 2021.
The college was a victim of cuts in the 1960s and closed in 1972. It was sold in 1976 to become Richmond University, the London campus of the American Institute for Foreign Study. This had been founded in 1972 by social entrepreneur and politician Cyril Taylor, who was chairman of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), which had already used the college for a number of years for its London study abroad programmes. AIFS purchased half of the 10-acre site for £300,000 including the majority of its buildings and front lawns to form a new American liberal arts college, which came to be called Richmond University. A second campus was opened on St Albans Grove and Ansdell Street in Kensington in 1978 for third and fourth year students as well as the college's US Study Abroad Programme. The American University remained in Richmond until 2022 and the property is currently up for sale.
Even though the site is now smaller than at the time it was laid out, it is still of a significant size for the area, when other large estates including the old workhouse on the opposite side of Queens Road have been broken up for residential redevelopment. The grounds include a number of well-grown trees and have been identified as a Candidate site for survey in the Review of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation in Richmond upon Thames by Salix Ecology in November 2021.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ185739 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.77 |
| Site Ownership | (Richmond University, The American University in London) |
| Dates | 1841-43 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Richmond College. Building of Townscape Merit: Lower College Lodge, Upper College Lodge, Porters Lodge, The Red House |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Richmond |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Richmond Hill |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
Gallery
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
In medieval times this was common land in the royal manor known as Hill Common, even then renowned for its views. There was a seat overlooking the view by the mid C17th and Richmond Terrace Walk was laid out c.1700. Between 1765-75 the top of the hill was developed further and in the 1770s the Terrace Walk was extended. From the early C17th there were brickworks below Terrace Walk. When they closed in 1767 part of the north-west area was taken for private gardens, but the local vestry successfully petitioned King George III to prevent development on the remainder and 3.65 hectares of grazed meadow were given as part of the royal bounty, and became known as Terrace Field. In 1902, an Act of Parliament preserved the view from Richmond Hill.
In medieval times this was common land in the royal manor known as Hill Common, even then renowned for its views. There was a seat overlooking the view by the mid C17th and Richmond Terrace Walk was laid out c.1700. Between 1765-75 the top of the hill was developed further and in the 1770s the Terrace Walk was extended. From the early C17th there were brickworks below Terrace Walk. When they closed in 1767 part of the north-west area was taken for private gardens, but the local vestry successfully petitioned King George III to prevent development on the remainder and 3.65 hectares of grazed meadow were given as part of the royal bounty, and became known as Terrace Field. In 1902, an Act of Parliament preserved the view from Richmond Hill.
Petersham Common slopes steeply down to the west towards Petersham Meadows and the River Thames. Formerly land within the manor of Petersham long held by the Earls of Dysart, in 1902 the freehold of Petersham Common was transferred to Richmond Town Council, under the Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act 1902. The 9th Earl of Dysart specified that it was to be managed by Petersham Common Conservators, and this continues to be the case. The common is now conserved woodland.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
This was formerly part of Hill Common where there were tile kilns from c1630-1767. From 1765 the Duke of Montagu acquired land here to extend the pleasure grounds of his mid C18th riverside house, linking the two parts by a subterranean tunnel that still links Terrace and Buccleuch Gardens. The estate was inherited by his daughter, and in 1827 by her grandson the 5th Duke of Buccleuch, who further extended the ornamental gardens and was famous for his fetes entertaining royalty and other dignitaries. In 1886 his son sold the properties to Richmond Vestry and Terrace Gardens was opened in 1887 by HRH Princess Mary Adelaide. The layout of that time is essentially the same today and Terrace Gardens became famous for its seasonal bedding, rockery, shrubberies, and rose garden. Buccleuch Gardens, the site of the Duke's house, remained a private estate until 1937 when Richmond Council bought back the property; the mansion was demolished and the gardens opened to the public. It forms a narrow strip along the river with a path now part of the Thames Path.
This was formerly part of Hill Common where there were tile kilns from c1630-1767. From 1765 the Duke of Montagu acquired land here to extend the pleasure grounds of his mid C18th riverside house, linking the two parts by a subterranean tunnel that still links Terrace and Buccleuch Gardens. The estate was inherited by his daughter, and in 1827 by her grandson the 5th Duke of Buccleuch, who further extended the ornamental gardens and was famous for his fetes entertaining royalty and other dignitaries. In 1886 his son sold the properties to Richmond Vestry and Terrace Gardens was opened in 1887 by HRH Princess Mary Adelaide. The layout of that time is essentially the same today and Terrace Gardens became famous for its seasonal bedding, rockery, shrubberies, and rose garden. Buccleuch Gardens, the site of the Duke's house, remained a private estate until 1937 when Richmond Council bought back the property; the mansion was demolished and the gardens opened to the public. It forms a narrow strip along the river with a path now part of the Thames Path.