The Birmingham Society of Arts was founded in 1821. During the 1830's it maintained a small School of Design served by part-time teachers with a full-time head being appointed in 1842. The School was amalgamated with the Midland Institute and continued to grow, so that by 1865 there were more than 1000 students. Eventually the Art School building in Margaret Street designed by John Henry Chamberlain was opened in 1884.