The Society of Merchant Venturers' connections with Bristol's Faculty of Engineering: Foundations

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The Society of Merchant Venturers has long-standing connections with the University that date back to the nineteenth century and the existence of University College Bristol. For example, during an 1874 appeal of the University College, the Society of Merchant Venturers promised a £1000 donation.1 However these connections morphed into a form of rivalry, when, in 1880, the Society of Merchant Venturers took over the running and financing of the Bristol Trade School, renaming it the 'Merchant Venturer's School'. They hence founded their own educational facility.2 The Society of Merchant Venturers purchased premises in Unity Street to meet the needs of the school for £5,000, although the building was not fully constructed until 1885 and ended up costing nearly six times as much to complete.3 In 1894, the school was renamed the 'Merchant Venturers Technical College' (Figure 1 shows the college before 1906).4

Black and white photograph of a large four storey building on the corner of a road. The words 'Bristol. Merchant Venturers Technical College' are written on the photo.‌
Figure 1 – Merchant Venturers Technical College before 1906 (Society of Merchant Venturers/5/5/5/9, Bristol Archives)5

 

Black and white photograph of the corner of a large four storey building, with smoke coming out of several windows.‌
Figure 2 – Fire at Merchant Venturers Technical College in 1906 (Society of Merchant Venturers/5/5/5/9, Bristol Archives)6

 

By 1905 the Technical College had become a 'rival focus of higher education,' to University College Bristol.7 However, following a fire that destroyed the college in in 1906 (Figure 2), the Society of Merchant Venturers was encouraged to consider the Technical College's future. The Society of Merchant Venturers and the college needed money and supporters.8 Consequently, in December 1906, the Society of Merchant Venturers suggested that the Technical College should become a part of the new University of Bristol. After three years of discussion, the Technical College merged with the University College's existing faculty as the new Faculty of Engineering, under the charter that created the University of Bristol in 1909.9 The merging of the two institutions resulted in a nexus between the Society of Merchant Venturers and the University. For example, academic staff who transferred from the Technical College to the Faculty of Engineering were 'appointed by the Society', but then needed to be officially 'recognised' by the University.10 The faculty's teaching would be carried out in the Unity Street Buildings, and the Society of Merchant Venturers would provide 'generous equipment'.11 The faculty soon began advertising, with courses costing £26 5s per year, or £10 10s for students whose parent's incomes were under £350 a year.12 The faculty taught a range of subjects, which included: applied mathematics, engineering subjects including drawing and design, workshop practice, theory of machines and machine design, theory of structures and structural design, strength and elasticity of materials, electrical technology, hydraulics, surveying, theory of heat engines, design of electrical machinery and apparatus, generation, transmission, and distribution of electric energy, motor car engineering, chemical engineering, magnetism and electricity, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and applied chemistry.13 Early faculty staff included John Munro, Professor of Mechanical Engineering (Figure 3).

1909 – Faculty of Engineering University of Bristol Staff14
DepartmentPositionName
Applied Chemistry Professor/Dean of Faculty Julius Wertheimer
Applied Chemistry Lecturer Hugh Alexander Millar Borland
Mechanical Engineering Professor John Munro
Mechanical Engineering Lecturer Francis Renton Barry Watson
Civil Engineering Professor Robert M. Ferrier
Civil Engineering Lecturer F. J. Broadbent
Civil Engineering Assistant Lecturer J. Lees
Applied Mathematics Professor Edmund Springfield Boulton
Electrical Engineering Professor David Robertson
Motor-car Engineering Professor William Morgan
Electrical Engineering Lecturer O. J. Williams
Black and white photograph of a man with short hair and beard, wearing an academic robe and standing in front of a blackboard which has geometric diagrams drawn on it.‌
Figure 3 – Professor John Munro (Professor of Mechanical Engineering) (DM418 University of Bristol Special Collections)15
  1. ^ J. W. Sherborne, University College Bristol, 1876–1909, Issued by the Bristol Branch of the Historical Association, the University of Bristol (1977) p.7
  2. ^ Sherborne, University College Bristol, p.19
  3. ^ G. W. Charles, 'The Merchant Venturers' Technical College, Bristol' The Vocational Aspect of Secondary and Further Education Vol. 3, No. 6 (1951) 86-89, p.87
  4. ^ Charles, 'The Merchant Venturers' p.88
  5. ^ Bristol Archives SMV/5/5/5/9
  6. ^ Bristol Archives, SMV/5/5/5/9
  7. ^ Don Charleton, A University for Bristol (1984) p.19
  8. ^ Charleton, A University for Bristol (1984) p.19
  9. ^ Sherborne, University College Bristol, p.24
  10. ^ Severn, Faculty of Engineering, p.38. For example, Wertheimer wrote to the Vice Chancellor in 1918 to request that lecturers in Aircraft Manufacture and Electrical Handymen's classes be 'recognised' by the University. 16 October 1918, DM883
  11. ^ Charleton, A University for Bristol, p.23; DM 883, University of Bristol Faculty of Engineering, Report for the Session 1909-10
  12. ^ 'Merchant Venturers Technical College' Western Daily Press, 2 September 1909, p.4, The British Newspaper Archive
  13. ^ Bristol Archives, SMV/5/6/3/1
  14. ^ Bristol Archives, SMV/5/6/3/1
  15. ^ University of Bristol Special Collections, DM418, John Munro

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