One hundred years ago, in the autumn of 1925, author and Spiritualist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stepped through the door of a six-storey townhouse in South Kensington that was up for sale. He was prospecting for the new headquarters of the London Spiritualist Alliance, later The College of Psychic Studies. Soon to be inaugurated as president, Conan Doyle was tasked with securing a perfect home for us. Here, at 16 Queensberry Place, he found it.
An announcement in Light
On 5 December 1925, an announcement was made in Light, the London Spiritual Alliance's journal, marking our move from 5 Queen Square, WC1, to 16 Queensberry Place, South Kensington, SW7:
"The Council have pleasure in announcing that the commodious home to which the Alliance has so long looked forward is now in being. It is situated within three minutes' walk of South Kensington Station, which is served by the Piccadilly and Brompton Tube and the Metropolitan and District Railways; and many lines of 'buses pass the station. It will be found to be a centre that is easily and quickly reached from all parts of London.
The house is fitted as a Day Club for members, with library, members' sitting room, reading room and reference library, tea room, seance rooms and lecture room. It is intended that it shall be the home in London for Spiritualists from all parts and arrangements are under consideration whereby the greatest number may have the facilities offered at the lowest cost to cover the running expenses.
Its aim is not to overlap the excellent work of other Societies, but to supplement the whole by providing a common meeting ground where in space and comfort friendship can be established between those united by a common interest in Spiritualism and Psychical Research."
A place of spiritual connection
Since opening its doors in December 1925, this gracious home, with its Victorian stucco pillars and iconic blue door, has been a place of spiritual sustenance for psychics, mediums and spiritual seekers. We have come a long way in the past century, having broadened our horizons beyond psychic and mediumship to include tarot, magic, astrology, chakras, shamanism, numerology and more.
We continue to flourish
True to our foundations, we continue to work with the UK's most esteemed psychics and mediums, healers and spiritual leaders, many of whom trained here at The College of Psychic Studies and have returned to teach those who wish to walk this extraordinary path. Alongside our in-person programme, we offer livestream courses & events for our community who cannot join us here physically, but nonetheless feel a deep connection with the spirit of this place.
Our spirit-guided collections
We are also incredibly proud of our flourishing archive collection of art, rare artefacts and spirit photography, the most recent of which includes the dream diaries of artist and occultist Ithell Colquhoun – these and other treasures will be on display in The Medium is the Message this autumn and winter. Our library continues as a valuable repository of rare and unusual books, dating back over the past century and beyond. And that's not to mention the building itself, 16 Queensberry Place, which has, over the past 100 years of meditation and spiritual work, developed a special energy, unique to The College of Psychic Studies.
In deep gratitude
In the short space of this post, we cannot hope to duly honour all those who have served The College of Psychic Studies at this address over the past century, whether as member, tutor, consultant, staff, trustee, president, or those guiding us from beyond. However, we have each, in our own way, contributed to make this College the very special place it is today. We are deeply grateful to all, and we send that gratitude forward across the next 100 years to our custodians of the future.
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