Eleanor Grove

Eleanor Grove (1826 – 22 November 1905) was a British translator and educationist. She was the founding principal of College Hall in London that allowed women to live in Bloomsbury and attend the University of London. She and her lifelong partner, Rosa Morison, have a building named after them.

Life Grove was born in Clapham in 1826, one of many siblings. Her parents were Mary Blades and Thomas Grove, a dealer in fish and venison and a congregationalist. They left her well provided for, and she was able to decide how she would spend her life.

When Queen's College, London, advertised for an assistant secretary, Grove was so qualified that she was given the job despite missing the interview. Her brother, George Grove, the engineer and musicologist, had told her of the position, and he attended the interview on her behalf. It was there that she met the linguist Rosa Morison who had been employed as assistant secretary in 1872. Grove was promoted to Lady Resident. She oversaw the staff, guided the students, and, where necessary, imposed discipline.

Morison was promoted in 1883 to the new post of "Lady Superintendent of Women Students". In 2018 a new hall of residence was named Eleanor Rosa Hall to commemorate the contribution of Rosa Morison and Eleanor Grove to women's education. The new building has 33 floors and capacity for 500 students. The interior design is inspired by its namesakes.