Applied Science, Houldsworth School of (School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering)

Description

HOULDSWORTH SCHOOL

(School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering)

(see also individual constituent Departments)


The School of Process, Environmental and Engineering was created in August 1997 and comprises the Departments of Chemical Engineering, of Fuel and Energy, of Materials and of Mining and Mineral Engineering.

Mining Engineering was one of the founding disciplines of the Yorkshire College of Science, which opened in 1874 and became the University of Leeds in 1904. The three foundation chairs of the College were Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, and Geology and Mining. The first student to enrol at the College in 1874 was a mining student, Shadrach Stevenson. In 1904, Professor G.R. Thompson, Head of the Mining Department urged the University to add the teaching of fuel and metallurgy to mining and he was supported by Arthur Smithells, Professor of Chemistry, whose investigations of the properties of flames had brought him into close contact with the gas industry, the leaders of which were anxious to further the scientific development of their industry. As a result, a separate Department of Fuel and Metallurgy was established in 1906 under Professor W.A. Bone.

The Mining Department moved into a new purpose-built building in 1930. The West Yorkshire Coal Owners and the Miners Welfare Committee funded the construction of the Portland stone-faced building on Woodhouse Lane.

In 1942 the Department of Fuel and Metallurgy established separate degrees in Metallurgy and in Chemical Engineering followed, in 1952, by a separate degree in Ceramics. By this stage the size and range of activities of the Department required new accommodation and a re-organisation of its structure. The new accommodation was provided by the construction of the Houldsworth building, begun in 1955, and the Department was reorganised as the Houldsworth School of Applied Science in 1956. The School and the building were named after Sir Hubert Stanley Houldsworth, the first chairman of the National Coal Board and one-time Pro-Chancellor of the University of Leeds. The first stage of the building was officially opened on 7 October 1958 and the second and final stage was completed in 1964.

With the creation of the Houldsworth School in 1956, the metallurgical activities were organised into a separate Department of Metallurgy. This was followed in 1958 by a separate Department of Chemical Engineering and in 1965 by a separate Department of Ceramics. The Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering joined the Houldsworth School of Applied Science in 1964 but remained in the Woodhouse Lane building. In 1988 the Departments of Ceramics and of Metallurgy joined to form the School of Materials.

In 1997, the four departments were reunited in a unitary School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering. The creation of the School was accompanied by a major refurbishment of the Houldsworth building, partly to accommodate the Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering which moved from its Woodhouse Lane site. Professor Richard Brook, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) opened the newly refurbished building on 7 October 1998.

In 2001 the School achieved recognition for the quality of its wide-ranging research with a 5 rating in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).


1. Photographs. Fuel Department (interiors), c. 1920-22. 3 b/w prints.


2. Photographs. Charles Brotherton Chemical Engineering Laboratory (interiors), c. 1946-47. 13 b/w prints (captioned).


3. Duplicated notes for opening of the Charles Brotherton Chemical Engineering Laboratory, describing equipment and teaching and research work of the Departments, 1946.


4. H. J. Hodsman. The University of Leeds Department of Coal Gas and Fuel Industries with Metallurgy. n.d.[? 1946].


5. A. L. Roberts. The Houldsworth School of Applied Science: The Fuel Department after 60 Years. London: Institution of Gas Engineers, 1966. 3 copies.


6. Houldsworth School of Applied Science. Duplicated notes for visits by Members of the Society of Chemical Industry, 27 April 1959; Members of Convocation and the Old Students’ Association, 4 July 1959; Members of the Society of Chemical Industry, 11 May 1965; Sixth Form Conference, 9 July 1965; Members of the Society of Chemical Industry and Institution of Chemical Engineers, 25 March 1970; University of Leeds Open Day, 14 May 1977.


7. Floor Plan. Department of Coal Gas and Fuel Industries, 7 St. Mark’s Terrace. 1951.


8. University of Leeds. University Studies in Applied Science and Technology: An Introduction to the Degree Courses in the Faculty of Technology. Leeds: University of Leeds, November 1964.


9. Joint Meeting of the Yorkshire Junior Gas Association with the Manchester Junior Gas Association, 12 May 1971. A Visit to the Houldsworth School of Applied Science, The University, Leeds. (Guide to research in progress in the School).


10. University of Leeds. Houldsworth School of Applied Science. Code of Practice and General Regulations. August 1960. 2 copies.


11. Houldsworth School Workshop Ledger (goods ordered and received, with names and addresses of suppliers) April 1965-July 1985.


12. Prospectuses, 1962-65.


13. School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering Degree Programmes 1999/2000 Entry.


14. School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering Graduation Day 19 July 2001 and 18 July 2002


15 Houldsworth School Annual report 1969/1970, 1970/1 (accn 301)


16 Folder entitled ‘School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering, celebrating 100 years, 1906-2006. Contains commemorative brochure, copies of presentations, event invitation and menu for centenary dinner.

Biography or history

The School of Process, Environmental and Engineering was created in August 1997 and comprises the Departments of Chemical Engineering, of Fuel and Energy, of Materials and of Mining and Mineral Engineering. Mining Engineering was one of the founding disciplines of the Yorkshire College of Science which opened in 1874 and became the University of Leeds in 1904. The three foundation chairs of the College were Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, and Geology and Mining. The first student to enrol at the College in 1874 was a mining student - Shadrach Stevenson. In 1904, Professor G.R. Thompson, Head of the Mining Department urged the University to add the teaching of fuel and metallurgy to mining and he was supported by Arthur Smithells, Professor of Chemistry, whose investigations of the properties of flames had brought him into close contact with the gas industry, the leaders of which were anxious to further the scientific development of their industry. As a result, a separate
Department of Fuel and Metallurgy was established in 1906 under Professor W.A. Bone. The Mining Department moved into a new purpose-built building in 1930. The West Yorkshire Coal Owners and the Miners Welfare Committee funded the construction of the Portland stone-faced building on Woodhouse Lane. In 1942 the Department of Fuel and Metallurgy established separate degrees in Metallurgy and in Chemical Engineering followed, in 1952, by a separate degree in Ceramics. By this stage the size and range of activities of the Department required new accommodation and a re-organisation of its structure. The new accommodation was provided by the construction of the Houldsworth building, begun in 1955, and the Department was reorganised as the Houldsworth School of Applied Science in 1956. The School and the building were named after Sir Hubert Stanley Houldsworth, the first chairman of the National Coal Board and one-time Pro-Chancellor of the University of Leeds. The first stage of the building
was officially opened on 7 October 1958 and the second and final stage was completed in 1964. With the creation of the Houldsworth School in 1956, the metallurgical activities were organised into a separate Department of Metallurgy. This was followed in 1958 by a separate Department of Chemical Engineering and in 1965 by a separate Department of Ceramics. The Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering joined the Houldsworth School of Applied Science in 1964 but remained in the Woodhouse Lane building. In 1988 the Departments of Ceramics and of Metallurgy joined to form the School of Materials. In 1997, the four departments were reunited in a unitary School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering. The creation of the School was accompanied by a major refurbishment of the Houldsworth building, partly to accommodate the Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering which moved from its Woodhouse Lane site. The newly refurbished building was opened on 7 October 1998 by
Professor Richard Brook, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).In 2001 the School achieved recognition for the quality of its wide ranging research with a 5 rating in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Access and usage

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