St Matthew's School, Westminster

Westminster Abbey dominated the region where St. Matthew's Church and School are today for hundreds of years beginning in the 11th century. While serving as the Abbey's organist in 1681, Henry Purcell resided in Great St Anne's Street with his family. The Church Building Commissioners decided that another church should be built in St. Margaret's parish in 1711 when the population reached 20,000. The site for this church was purchased from Henry Smith, who served as the Commissioners' treasurer, and was paid for using public funds. Around Smith Square, streets like North Street and Cowley Street underwent development during this time as well. West of Parliament Square, there was a small amount of industry. Between Horseferry Road and Great Peter Street, the gas works were the dominant feature. The Broadwood piano factory was located at Horseferry Road not far from the current Monck Street/Horseferry Road intersection. St. Matthew's School was erected next to St. Matthew's Church in St. Anne's Street in 1851, not long after the church had been dedicated. Old Pye Street once had a ragged school, but this one with a Christian foundation provided a solid education. Victoria Street was home to a college for teachers of National schools. Since it first opened in 1858, the school building has undergone numerous changes, and visitors are frequently startled at the amount of room and light that can be found behind the large red doors on Old Pye Street.