Crescent Arts Centre

The Crescent Arts Centre building began life as the home of Ladies’ Collegiate School founded and run by Margaret Byers, an advocate and pioneer for women's’ education. She commissioned the building at a cost of £7,000 in 1873 – the date is still clearly embossed on the keystone over the Lower Crescent entrance. It was one of the first purpose-built schools for girls in the country. In her Jubilee Year of 1887, and in recognition of the outstanding achievements of Mrs. Byers and her staff, Queen Victoria issued a royal command that the school be renamed to Victoria College. Under this title the College continued to prosper and grow, but as time went by the constraints of the gradually ageing building led to the eventual relocation in 1972 to its present-day home at Cranmore Park.