Marlborough Buildings

While the buildings were still under construction, rooms to accommodate eight residents were taken by the Chelsea University Extension Committee. The idea (described as an experiment) was to provide evening-class students with 'some of the advantages of college life'.^[5][6] At a cost of 10s 6d (52 1/2 p) 'each resident will have a furnished private room, with the use of common dining and reading rooms.'^[7] The rooms were only to be available to bona-fide extension students.^[8] This scheme followed similar successful innovations at Toynbee Hall, Wadham and Balliol (in the East End, but named after their Oxford counterparts). An extension of the scheme to provide accommodation for women students was under consideration.^[9][10]

The original owners sold the property and in the 1970s and 80s, the flats transitioned from low-rent social housing into private ownership. The site was renamed The Marlborough – reflecting its gentrified status as a desirable address. In 2015, the courtyard was redesigned by Chris Dyson Associates^[11] and the landscaping was undertaken by Frost Landscapes.^[12] There is now a second entrance from Richard's Place.