History of the Royal London Society for the Blind

1838:

12 January: The 'London Society for Teaching the Blind to Read' was founded and used a system of embossed type invented by Thomas Mark Lucas.

Funds for the school were raised largely through the efforts of the Ladies' Committee under the secretaryship of Mrs Lydia Johnson. Her husband, Percival Norton Johnson, founder of what is now Johnson Matthey plc, also took a prominent role in the affairs of the Society for many years.

The original Day School was in Fitzroy Street, London, but moved shortly after to 6 Gloucester Place, where resident pupils were accepted. Within a couple of years, teaching of practical skills, such as basket-making, knitting and netting, was introduced.

18 May: Thomas Lucas died.
 
1842:

With the need for larger premises, the School moved to 38 Queen Square, Bloomsbury.

1847:

The site for a new purpose-built school in Swiss Cottage was leased for 96 years at a 'peppercorn' rent and the original block was completed at a cost of £4,500.

1848:

23 March: the pupils were transferred to the new school.

1888:

With the increasing need for training and employment opportunities, the Society's first Workshops were opened to give technical instruction and employment for men and women.

1892:

Introduction of facilities for the teaching of piano tuning.

1910:

An After-Care Committee was formed to help former pupils and the first annual reunion of old pupils was held.

1916:

Electric lighting was introduced throughout the school.

1919:

New basket-making and boot-repairing workshops were opened to employ the many who lost their sight in the Great War.

1921:

The Homeworkers Scheme was introduced.

1922:

Amalgamation with the West London Workshops.

1938:

In the Society's 100th Anniversary Year, the prefix 'Royal' was added to the Society's title by order of HM King George VI and became the 'Royal London Society for Teaching the Blind to Read'.

A purpose-built workshop for the training and employment of about 200 blind craftsmen and women was opened in Kilburn.

1939:

At the start of World War II, the children were evacuated from London to a large manor house in Buckinghamshire called 'Dorton House'. This remained the home of the School until 1954.

1952:

Her Majesty The Queen commanded that the Society should be known as the 'Royal London Society for the Blind'.

1953:

Her Majesty The Queen granted her Patronage to the Society and Countess Mountbatten of Burma became the Society's President.

1954:

The Society purchased 'Wildernesse' in Seal and it became the new permanent home of the School. The name 'Dorton House' was transferred to the new property.

1955:

The transfer of the main school to Seal was completed, offering accommodation for 140 pupils and 40 resident staff.

1956:

15 May: HRH The Princess Margaret formally opened the RLSB's Dorton House School. 

1960s:

With increasing competition for the traditional crafts, the decision was made to convert the Workshops in Kilburn to engineering, assembly and packaging activities.

1965:

11 June: HRH Prince Philip opened the new Workshop facilities.

1982:

HRH The Duchess of Gloucester became President of the Society.

1983:
 
28 April: The RLSB's new purpose-built Dorton House School was opened by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester. Costing £1.75 million to build, it was designed for the education of 140 pupils. An indoor swimming pool was also opened on the Dorton Campus.

1989:

Her Majesty The Queen opened the RLSB's Dorton College of Further Education.

1996:

The RLSB's purpose-built Dorton House Nursery opened.

1997:

The RLSB's Employment Service was set up to help place people who are blind or partially sighted in employment and provide support to employers.

1999:

HRH The Duchess of Gloucester became the Society's Patron.

2006:
 
15 May: The RLSB's Dorton House School's Golden Jubilee Year.

2007:

Adult Support Services Directorate launched to expand the RLSB's Adult Employment Services and to broaden the range of other Adult Support Services e.g. housing and community support.

2009:

Hollybank Farm was offically opened on 23rd September by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester at Dorton House and became part of the student's curriculum.

2010:

May: Sainbury's Store in Otford, Kent nominated RLSB as the chosen Charity of the Year. October saw the arrival of Dr. Tom Pey as the Society's new Chief Executive Officer.

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