6 Secrets Of The House Of St Barnabas

Soho Square is usually pretty buzzing, with its famous neo-Tudor building in the centre (actually built in the 1920s to cover the entrance to an electricity substation below the square). 

Look away from the hut into the South East corner however and you will see a beautiful 18th century building, with the intriguing words ‘House of Charity’ emblazoned on the side in red and yellow tiles. 

For the past 10 years this building has been home to a member’s club called the House of St Barnabas. It is not a standard member’s club however as it has altruism at its heart: all profits go to the running of an employment academy, to help break the cycle of homelessness.

If we go back to the beginning though, the building started life as an aristocratic home and hides many curiosities. I was lucky enough to be invited to have a look around.

A Prestigious Home 

The first house was built on the site when Soho Square was laid out in 1679.

The owner was a man called Cadogan Thomas from Lambeth, a timber merchant, who leased it to various aristocrats such as Second Baron Crew, Lady Elizabeth Cavendish and MP William Archer. 

By 1742 the house had been largely rebuilt and in 1754 was leased to a man called Richard Beckford. Richard Beckford was the brother of William Beckford, an Alderman and later Lord Mayor of London. The family were extremely wealthy from owning sugar plantations and hundreds of slaves in Jamaica. 

Bazalgette’s Base

In 1811 the house was leased to the Westminster Commission of Sewers and in 1855 was used by the Metropolitan Board of Works and as the office of its chief engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette. 

Bazalgette was responsible for the new sewage system installed in London in the 1860s, much of which we still use today. He may well have drawn up many of the plans at the house and today you will find the Bazalgette Room in the house. Sir Joseph made a small modification to this room, more on that further down.

The Metropolitan Board of Works were also responsible for laying out Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue, thus shaping the area of Soho. It was in this period that the house was expanded and a Victorian extension added. 

The House of Charity

In 1861 the building became home to the House of Charity. The charity was founded in 1846 on what is now Manette Street, just behind the house, to look after as Gladstone put it “the waifs and strays of the turbid sea of human society”.

It was founded by a physician and campaigner for improved conditions in mental health institutions Dr Henry Monro (1817-1891). He descended from a long line of physicians at Bethlem Psychiatric Hospital. 

The charity’s original function was to look after families who by no fault of their own had found themselves in difficult positions. They could be admitted and supported at the house. 

The charity later broadened out to help people with homelessness more generally, even helping people emigrate to Australia, supporting those between jobs and looking after immigrants from Russia and the Balkans. In the 1950s the charity became known as the House of St Barnabas.

The house was commandeered during World War Two as the headquarters of the Air Training Corps and after the war became a women’s hostel. 

The hostel closed in 2006 and, as mentioned above, is now home to an employment academy and member’s club.

There are a few details and oddities to look out for at the House of St Barnabas.

6 Secrets of the House

1. The Victorian Chapel

When the charity moved into the building in the mid 19th century a chapel was constructed on the site of the old stable yard. They wanted those they were helping to live a good Christian life.

It was designed by the gothic-revival architect Joseph Clarke and the foundation stone laid by Catherine Gladstone (wife of William Gladstone) in 1862.

Today, as well as hosting church services, live gigs, panel talks, listening parties and the graduation ceremony of the employment academy all take place here.

2. The Penny Chute

A great detail to spot is the penny chute in the railings outside the house. Anyone passing can still put in money in the slot to make a donation to the charity. 

3. The Garden and possible Dickens connection

The house has a beautiful courtyard/garden for members to enjoy. In the garden are a couple of old London plane trees.

It is thought that the house was possibly the inspiration for the house owned by Dr Manette and Lucie in Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities and that the planes trees are those that they sit under in the book. The street behind the house, as mentioned earlier was renamed Manette Street due to the Dickens connection. 

4. The Secret Door

In what is now the ‘Bazalgette room’, Sir Joseph had an extra partition installed with a secret doorway in it. The house think this was possibly to keep the plans for his new sewer system safe.

Today the door rather disappointingly leads to a small kitchen.

5. Rococo mouldings 

If visiting one detail it is impossible to miss are the elaborate Rococo decorative mouldings. They are thought to have been installed during Beckford’s time at the house.

The creative spirit in the house was continued with various artworks throughout by well known artists.

6. Crinoline Staircase

The house also has a ‘Crinoline staircase’.

From the ground floor upwards the bars bend outwards to accommodate the large hooped dresses of ladies. A ‘crinoline’ was the structured petticoat that would go beneath a skirt to hold it out. This does not continue downstairs as these would have been servants quarters. 

Overall the House of St Barnabas is a fascinating spot. In true London style it is practically oozing with history, myths, legends and the stories of those that have passed through its door over the centuries.

If you would like to find out more about the club, house and charity, click here.

Thank you for reading, more of London’s quirky history below!