A historic local hero who provided poor children in Deptford with medical attention and an education has been honoured by Goldsmiths University.

The Lewisham-based university honoured Margaret McMillan by renaming a building after the social reformer after a campaign by students.

McMillan was born in New York and moved to London in the 1880s where she devoted the next four decades to improving the lives of people living in deprivation and poverty, particularly in Deptford and the surrounding communities.

She managed three Deptford schools and set up health clinics in the area to treat poor children.

The renaming of the building follows a campaign by students and staff to ensure that the historic contribution of women is more widely recognised.

A special ceremony was held on Monday, September 25, to mark the renaming.

Maggie Pitfield, senior lecturer and head of educational studies at Goldsmiths, said: “Margaret McMillan was an extremely important figure locally, in the history of Goldsmiths, and in the development of early years education internationally.

“She was known as 'The Children's Champion' and it is therefore fitting that the building where we continue her legacy educating the teachers of tomorrow should be named after her.”

Eva Crossan Jory, president of Goldsmiths students’ union, said: “Students voted for the building to be renamed after Margaret McMillan to highlight the work of this inspiring and remarkable woman.

“It’s a testament to the hard work of all those involved in the campaign to see the historic contribution of women finally reflected on campus, particularly our former education officer Mollie Kneath who was a driving force behind the campaign.”