Collection WAT - Waterloo Club

The March 1948 issue of the Polytechnic Magazine gives a history of the Waterloo Club as follows:

"It was in 1932 that a group of young Poly members took over a disused public house in Cornwall Road, Lambeth, carried out a number of alterations and generally adapted and equipped the building for use as a Boys' Club. These efforts were inspired by a study of the early work of Quintin Hogg in the Charing Cross Arches and Long Acre, and was " an attempt by members of the Polytechnic to carry the spirit of their Founder to the boys and young men of Lambeth." For some five years the activities of the Club developed rapidly, and at the end of the five years its members were putting in the field each Saturday some five football teams in the winter and two or three cricket teams in the summer, in addition to nightly indoor activities. Amongst the regular indoor activities boxing and physical training were exceedingly popular. The building contained a library, handicrafts room, chapel and billiard room on the upper floors, with the ground floor thrown open as a games room and canteen.

In 1937 the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (upon whose Lambeth estate the original premises stood) prepared to re-develop the whole estate by clearing away the old cottages and slum dwellings, and erecting modern blocks of working class flats. To do this they were obliged to disturb not only the Waterloo Club, but also the Cathedral Play Centre which was being carried on in similar premises on their estate. The Commissioners agreed to erect a social centre as an integral part of the re-development scheme in which both the Waterloo Club and the Cathedral Play Centre could, with other local organisations, carry on their work. In the meantime, the Club found temporary accommodation in Lambeth Palace Road. It was only just before the outbreak of war that the new building, known as Ethelm House, was completed and opened by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Within a matter of days, however, war was declared and the various bodies who were to use the building felt unable to proceed until more settled conditions prevailed. In any case, the building was required for public purposes, firstly becoming an annexe to the Union Jack Club, and later a Rest Centre for bombed-out families.

Within the last twelve months the L.C.C. have de-requisitioned the premises, and much progress has been made in reorganising the Waterloo Club and the Cathedral Play Centre. Amongst the members of the Institute who have been taking an active part in t he work have been

W.Bailey (Harriers), E. T. Houston (Rowing Club), H. R[ King, R. James (Harriers), G. Sansom (Badminton Club), A. Nelson and D. Turner.

Many of the old boys who have returned from service in the forces have taken an interest in re-establishing the Club. The first phase of re-development after the War was the formation of an Old Boys' Section and the drawing together of a number of the old members, including some who first came to the Club in 1932 as boys of 10. Two of them in particular are playing a very big part in getting the Club reestablished.

It was envisaged before the War that the various bodies for which accommodation had been provided in Ethelm House would continue to work as separate bodies, making their own appeals for finance, etc. During the last few months it has become increasingly clear that greater efficiency

and usefulness could result if the premises were managed as a single unit. Accordingly, the Waterloo Club and the Cathedral Play Centre have combined forces and have become integral parts of an Ethelm House Social Centre while still retaining their own individuality.

A Committee has been set up to establish a Girls' Club in order that the Youth work of the Centre may be complete. This Committee includes representatives of both the Waterloo Club and the Cathedral Play Centre. The major difficulty at the moment is to obtain the necessary equipment and build up a group of voluntary workers. Funds are, of course, needed to carry on the work. The members of the Committee or the

writer of this note would be very happy to show any Poly members over Ethelm House, and especially any who felt able to devote

a little time regularly to help in running the Clubs.

Amongst those who have agreed to serve as Patrons of the Ethelm House Centre are Hon. Quintin Hogg, Lord Luke of Pavenham and Mr. J. Arthur Rank."

However there are no further mentions of the Waterloo Club in the Magazine after this date.