It was Friday 29th September 1905. A total of 249 of the first teacher training students had arrived the day before.

149 Arts School students and 1,612 Science, Engineering and Building Trades students had started their academic year at the beginning of the week on Monday 25th September.

Many of them were packing the floor and balconies of The Great Hall which had been adorned with palm plants, ferns, flowers and bunting.

Margaret Carter L.R.A.M. A.R.C.M, the Training Department’s new ‘Directrice of Music’, had finished days of rehearsing the eleven pieces of classical music she would be playing on the magnificent Art Nouveau organ commissioned and built by the City of London Goldsmiths’ Company for the previous Technical and Recreative Institute in 1891.

She was to perform a beautiful recital for a spectacular late afternoon ceremony when the Goldsmiths’ Company of the City of London handed over a golden key to the University of London.

It was the key to the building and grounds that over 17 years they had developed for community and working class education and it was their gift to what was then the fastest growing and most pioneering British University.

The grateful Chancellor of London University was the witty and charismatic Liberal politician, Lord Rosebery, known as the Oscar Wilde of politics, who would present an entertaining and inspirational speech which would have the aisles rocking in laughter and the hearts and minds of every one present full of hope and aspiration for their futures and that of Higher Education in this part of London.

The substantial concert organ in the Great Hall was originally built by Abbott & Smith of Leeds. It was modernised and rebuilt with an Art Deco casing in 1935 by the Liverpool firm of Rushworth & Dreaper.

Margaret Carter was a pioneer in being one of the few women professional teachers and performers of organ and piano and one of the first women directors of music in British higher education.

She needed to be brilliant on the organ and have nerves of steel when being the only performer of the music which began and closed the historic event attended by the country’s educational establishment.

In 2025 the Great Hall organ has not been playable for many decades and the cost of restoration would probably be in the region of between £500,000 and £1 million.

Goldsmiths does have a unique recording of the Goldsmiths’ College choir and Great Hall organ being played at an assembly in the summer of 1949.

This has survived in the form of a 78 rpm Shellac disc and it is possible to hear the organ being played for around 40 seconds before the third Warden of Goldsmiths’ College, Arthur Edis Dean, introduces: ‘The hymn this morning is number 85 in the College hymn book, Bunyan’s pilgrim’s hymn ‘Who Would True Valour See’.

It is surely an evoking thought that the voices you hear in this recording are from students and staff at Goldsmiths’ College who are most likely to have passed away.

This can be heard on a link below.

To provide some idea of the sound Margaret Carter created, we have provided YouTube links to modern performances and recordings of church and cathedral organs of some of the music she performed.

On 29th September 1905, she played the following pieces at the opening when people filled the Great Hall between 3.30 and 4.30 p.m :

1. March                                       …                   V.A. Petrali

How it sounds from a modern performance:
Davide Pelissa – Vincenzo Antonio Petrali – Marcia Religiosa (first modern concert performance)  organ https://youtu.be/feuUFs3pPhs?si=js5OJD1HrU2aiH5W&t=75

2.”Chorus of Angels”                 …                   S. Clark

3. “Ave Maria”                            …                   Mascagni

How it sounds from a modern performance:

Jordi Franch –  P. Mascagni – Ave Maria (orgue) https://youtu.be/77T78s8JWdI?si=yUl3_lpij4_vXtCx

4. Minuet- “Berenice”               …                   Handel

How it sounds from a modern performance:

Martyn Mellodew – Minuet (Berenice) – Handel https://youtu.be/G1SrlOqEpXc?si=E_9_P_zSmpLptZRw

5. “Gran Coro Trionfale”          …                   Capocci

How it sounds from a modern performance:

Enrico Abba – Filippo Capocci (1840-1911) Gran Coro Trionfale in Mi bem. maggiore https://youtu.be/wYCUAZGP9Wc?si=SdQxQ7kMLcS8OvPL

At the end of the Opening Ceremony ‘After the Return of the Chancellor’s Procession she played:

6. “Melodia”                                    …                  Capocci

7. “Children’s Slumber Song”      …                   Caiterz

8.  “Gipsy Life”                               …                   C. Le Tière.

9. Gavotte – “Mignon”                  …                   A. Thomas

How it sounds from a modern performance:

Charlotte’s Oldest Organ, Gavotte from Mignon https://youtu.be/ETP-RgckhSA?si=uuXs-zN_jMrC_7XD&t=10

10. “Songs Without Words”        …                   Mendelssohn.

How it sounds from a modern performance:

Brausinger, Günther – Organ Magnificent – 23 – Mendelssohn – Songs without Words – Funeral March https://youtu.be/47X4wBzibc8?si=-q4Y-m3etGiNq_N1

11. “Cantabile”                                …                   Best

How it sounds from a modern performance:

Paul Fey – Cantabile in C Major https://youtu.be/5-eAycCtUl4?si=iE2V5ZO6vPovwfUg

The programme for the ‘Opening Ceremony on September 29th at 4 p.m. of University of London, Goldsmiths’ College (the Gift of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths)

Order of Proceedings

3.30  Organ Recital by Miss Margaret Carter.

4.0    Entry of Chancellor’s Procession into the Great Hall.

The Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company will hand a Key of the Building to the Chancellor of the University.

Speeches

The Prime Warden (Mr. Carrington).

The Chancellor of the University (The Earl of Rosebery).

The Chairman of the Goldsmiths’ College Delegacy (Sir Edward Busk, Vice-Chancellor of the University).

The Chairman of the Education Committee of the Surrey County Council (Mr. Chapman)

5.0 Return of the Chancellor’s Procession.

Organ Recital by Miss Margaret Carter.

The Order of Procession

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Report of the opening of Goldsmiths’ College by the national liberal newspaper of the time The Daily News (later the News Chronicle) Saturday 30th September 1905

The Daily News clearly had a reporter in the Great Hall with accurate shorthand for the newspaper provided a verbatim account of Lord Rosebery’s speech complete with audience reaction.

‘YOUNG UNIVERSITIES.

LORD ROSEBERY ON LONDON’S AMBITION.

HIS ONLY REGRET.

The Earl of Rosebery, as Chancellor of the University of London, opened the Goldsmiths’ College at New Cross yesterday afternoon.

The building was formerly used by the Government as an institution for the training of naval cadets, and latterly it has been maintained by the Goldsmiths’ Company as a technical and recreative institute for young people.

Parliament having laid the obligation of providing technical instruction on local authorities, the Goldsmiths’ Company handed over the edifice, with its 4 1/2 acres of land, to the University of London, whose Senate determined to utilise it as a training college for teachers.

Some 500 students will be admitted, all the places having been taken by the County Councils of London, Middlesex, Kent, and Surrey, and the Borough Council of Croydon.

It will be governed by  “College Delegacy” containing eight members of the University Senate, two representatives of the London County Council, one of each of the other Councils, two of the Goldsmiths’ Company, the Principal of the University, and its Professor of Education.

It is hoped in the near future to provide hostels for the students. Special departments of science and engineering and a school of art will continue to be maintained in the institution.

There was a large gathering of persons specially interested in education, including the Bishop of Southwark, Mr. J.G. Talbot (M.P. for Oxford University), Sir Edward Busk (Vice-Chancellor of London University), and many of the professors.

Lord Rosebery was in his Chancellor’s robe, and upon entering the hall the college was presented by the Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company (Mr. F. Eady) with the key of the college.

Lord Rosebery, in the course of his address, said: I will not attempt to deal with the branches of study which are to be imparted in this college.

I was born in the pre-scientific age – (laughter) – I was nurtured under pre-scientific auspices, and  here I will not be disposed to derogate the teaching which I received, though it was not scientific, because I see in front of me the honoured form of one from whom I was privileged to receive instruction- instruction from which I fear I benefited too little.

I mean the honoured Bishop of Southwark. (Applause). He, at any rate, will not reproach me for this allusion to my earlier studies, and I can say in his presence and in public what I have said to him more than once in private- that I wish I had had the wisdom and inclination to profit much more by what he taught me than I did. (Laughter.)

In paying a tribute to the munificent generosity and public spirit of the Goldsmiths’ Company, his Lordship said it took over from the Government a naval school – probably one of the abortive naval projects of some Government or another – (laughter)- all Governments have them – (renewed laughter) – and it was inspired by the wise desire to revive an institution for this part of London which should furnish both instruction and recreation.

And for seventeen years, at a vast expense, it carried on this institution.

CO-OPERATION PRAISED

I cannot help rejoicing to see the large spirit of co-operation which animates this new institution.

We have here predominant, no doubt, the great University of London, but we have also in the governing body representatives of the L.C.C., the Surrey County Council, the Middlesex County Council, and the Kent County Council.

We have far too little of co-operation in our British enterprises. When I think of the bodies that are to be associated together for this purpose, I am, I confess, refreshed and gratified to see them working together. I was Chairman of the London County Council when it was our duty to divide the properties which accrued to the various County Councils interested in the metropolis after the passing of the London Government Act.

I had to be present as a negotiator at all the proceedings which took place with the deputations from Surrey, Kent, and Middlesex.

At that time nothing would have surprised me more than to know that those County Councils were ready and willing to co-operate with the London County Council in any enterprise. (Laughter.) Consider what the position was.

We were all eager, and rightly eager, to stand up for our rights, and when rights imply property the keenness – I would also say the ferocity (laughter) – of an English public body surpasses all belief, transcends all experience. (Renewed laughter.)

In the interests of the ratepayers – (laughter) – we wrangled over every plot, and I think we arrived at a settlement eventually by that spirit of justice- blind always (laughter)- which sometimes unexpectedly brings uncompromising negotiation to a close.

PEACE IN THE PASTURE

But I confess I drew from those negotiations that Surrey did not love us – (laughter)- that we were not agreeable to Middlesex – (further laughter)- that we were absolutely distasteful to Kent- (more laughter)- and I cannot say with what complacency it is that I see at this comparatively early period after those contests these bodies sending representatives together to lie down as peacefully as sheep in one pasture.

The final feature which most appeals to me in today’s proceedings is the increasing greatness and utility of the University of which I am the unworthy and nominal head.

The University of London is spreading itself over the Metropolis.

Though it may not spread itself over the Empire, it will very soon appeal to every portion of the Empire.  It is a young University. It deals with comparatively new branches of learning.

It deals with the practical and the concrete rather than with the ancient and the abstract. We have the privilege and the right to march not merely with the times, but in the van of the times.

We are placed in the largest community in the world, with our hands, so to speak, on the very heart of the Empire, living among new wants and new aspirations, meeting new needs and new requirements, and ready, as I hope, to face the exigences of today and tomorrow of the University of the future.

New Universities are springing up all over the world. Two or three have received charters only this year- in Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. Birmingham received its charter two or three years ago.

And by the vast resources of American citizens Universities of the newer kind are studding the boundless regions of the newer world.

We stand, then, in London for the newer University, and we ask London to help us to fulfil our ambition and our aspirations as the newer University, and it is because I believe in the priceless work of the newer University that I rejoice to stand in this college today.  (Loud applause.)

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How the June 1906 edition. of Goldsmiths’ College magazine, The Goldsmithian, reported the Opening  Ceremony 

‘INAUGURAL CEREMONY

Many of us had doubtless awaited the dawning of September 29th of last year with eager expectancy, for we were then to behold the enthralling dignity and majesty of a University function.

How impressive it was from the vantage point of the gallery to see our now familiar Great Hall slowly filling with the guests of the College, amongst whom some of us recognised friends.

Punctually at four o’clock the imposing academic procession with stately step slowly filed into the Great Hall, and made a bright and striking streak of colour down the central aisle.

In the procession we noticed many men whose voices on behalf of educational progress we had often heard before, and saw for the first time some of the august heads of the University, of whom the chief was the Chancellor, the Earl of Rosebery.

We all very keenly awaited the speech of the Chancellor, which followed immediately after the presentation of the golden key by the Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company, Mr. Eady.

In his few remarks, Mr. Eady said that the ceremony brought to a close a period of careful preparation, and inaugurated an institution which, it was hoped, would prove a great factor in the future education of the people.

He believed that Goldsmiths’ College would become the premier institution of its kind in England, and that by the key he was now handing to the Chancellor, the storehouse of knowledge in the College would be unlocked and made available for many future generations of teachers and students.

Amid much applause, in which the first “juniors” of the College were in evidence, the Chancellor rose to give his speech. He said several features of the celebration appealed specially to him. He was born in a pre-scientific age, and was nurtured under pre-scientific auspices.

He was not disposed to derogate from the instruction which he had received, but he wished that he had the wisdom and the inclination to profit much more by what had been taught him, and, with a touch of quiet humour, added that he addressed these regrets chiefly to the galleries, where he saw some of the young people who were about to partake of the instruction provided in the building.

Having warmly referred to the generosity and public spirit of the Goldsmiths’ Company, his Lordship could not help rejoicing to see the large spirit of co-operation which animated the new institution, referring here to the co-operation of the University with the various County Councils.

He then spoke of the increasing greatness and utility of the London University, how it was spreading its influence all over the metropolis, how it dealt with new branches of learning – the practical and the concrete rather than the ancient and abstract – how it lacked some of the glamour and attraction of the older Universities, the splendour of antiquity and tradition.

His reference to the value of a University education brought to my mind a passage of the late Sir Joshua Fitch’s “Lectures on Teaching,” where stress is laid upon the necessity of teachers – especially primary – taking up University work or wider studies, in order to prevent their minds being unconsciously narrowed by their work and position.

Lord Rosebery then closed his speech by saying that, because of his belief in the intense and priceless work of the University and its education of the present generation and of the long dark generations that are to come, he rejoiced in the College on that day.

The Chancellor resumed his seat amidst hearty cheering, upon the cessation of which the Vice-Chancellor of the University rose to give a few details of the work of the College. He said that the objects of the institution as conducted by the University were two-fold, that of training teachers, and of providing a general University education.

Though there were many University Colleges on the north side of the Thames, yet this was the first College under the control of the University on the south side, and it was hoped that in the near future, courses, day or evening, in all the faculties would be provided at the College, and its influences tend to spread University culture in the South of London.

Sir William Collins (Chairman of the London Education Committee and Mr Chapman (Chairman of the Surrey Education Committee) having spoken, the Warden rose to reply.

He thought that, if it were a matter of congratulation to have a great opportunity given to one, and an honour to be called to face some difficulties in the realisation of that opportunity, both staff and students of the College were to be congratulated and might consider themselves greatly honoured. Before them lay the opportunity of writing fair on a blank sheet; of creating a good tradition on which the whole future of the College would largely depend.

This tradition, he hoped, would be a sound and vigorous one, a tradition of the healthy mind in the healthy body, not merely of doing their duty, but of doing it with all their might, not merely of uprightness, but of mutual forbearance and courtesy.

With the departure of the academic procession, the proceedings concluded, and the occupants of the gallery filed out, hazarding remarks to one another here and there of the impressiveness of the afternoon’s ceremony, and of the glorious privilege of being students in a College belonging to so famous a University, a privilege so soon to be theirs.

This photograph a year or two after the Opening Ceremony in 1905

The image above gives a strong impression of what the Great Hall looked like when full with people on the floor and in the balconies and in this case a large choir on the stage.

The architecture of the organ in the Great Hall now is that of the 1935 refurbishment with the console designed by Rushworth & Dreaper. Rather than Art Nouveau, the style is Art Deco.

Images of the organ in the Great Hall of Goldsmiths, University of London taken for a refurbishment consultancy project in 2011. Goldsmiths Special Collections. 

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Many thanks to the staff of Special Collections and Archives at Goldsmiths, University of London including Dr Alexander Du Toit, and staff alumni Pat Loughrey, Ian Pleace and Lesley Ruthven.

The Goldsmiths History Project contributes to the research and writing of the forthcoming That’s So Goldsmiths: A History of Goldsmiths, University of London by Professor Tim Crook.