18 Facts About Judith Ledeboer

Judith Geertruid Ledeboer OBE was a Dutch-born English architect.

Judith Ledeboer was most active in London and Oxford, where she designed a variety of schools, university buildings and public housing projects.

Judith Ledeboer was one of six children born to Willem Ledeboer, who worked as a banker, and Harmina Engelbertha van Heek.

Judith Ledeboer's family moved to London shortly after her birth.

Judith Ledeboer attended Wimbledon High School, Cheltenham Ladies' College and Bedford College.

Judith Ledeboer studied history at Newnham College at the University of Cambridge from 1921 to 1924.

Judith Ledeboer moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to complete a master's degree in economics at Radcliffe College in 1925, and returned to London the next year to train at the Architectural Association School of Architecture.

Judith Ledeboer studied alongside Jessica Albery, Justin Blanco White, and Mary Crowley, and they developed a commitment to housing reform and social concerns which impacted their future careers.

Judith Ledeboer went into practice with David Booth in 1939 as Booth and Judith Ledeboer, where she mainly worked on small residential projects.

Judith Ledeboer left the firm in 1941 to work for the Ministry of Health through World War II.

Judith Ledeboer was the first female employee of the ministry to be responsible for housing, and was secretary of the Dudley and Burt committees on public housing.

In 1946, Judith Ledeboer left the Ministry of Health and returned to practice with Booth.

Some university projects on which Judith Ledeboer worked were the Institute of Archaeology and Classical Studies at the University of London, the Waynflete Building of Magdalen College at the University of Oxford, and Magdalen College School, part of Magdalen College.

Judith Ledeboer designed several housing complexes in London for the Lewisham and Newham Borough Councils.

Judith Ledeboer left private practice in 1970 but remained an active member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Landscape Institute until the mid-1970s.

Judith Ledeboer died in 1990 at her home in Hambledon, Surrey.

Judith Ledeboer was described by Lynne Walker in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as "one of the most significant voices in post-war housing policy".

Judith Ledeboer was appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1966.