Summary : No. 81 Avenue Road in Camden, Greater London, was a detached house and probably built between 1841 and 1852. In 1871-2, it was given as the official address of the London National Society for Women's Suffrage (LNSWS) and it was the home of Eliza Orme, who was secretary of the LNSWS at the time.Between 1933 and 1939, this was the home of Hungarian film producer, Sir Alexander Korda. The house was either rebuilt or extensively remodelled some time after 1939. It is possible that it was rebuilt after the Second World War as the area suffered bomb damage and was said to have been extensively rebuilt. |
More information : The first detached house on this site was probably built between 1841 and 1852.
Between 1933 and 1939, this was the home of Hungarian film producer, Sir Alexander Korda. The area suffered bomb damage during the Second World War and in 1945 there was extensive rebuilding. This source doesn't state whether No. 81 was rebuilt. (1)
In 1871-2, the official address of the London National Society for Women's Suffrage (LNSWS) was given as 81 Avenue Road in Camden, Greater London. This was the home of Eliza Orme who was secretary of the LNSWS at the time.
The LNSWS was formed in 1867, succeeding the Enfranchisement of Women Committee. Their first meeting was held on 5 July 1867 at Aubrey House, the home of Mentia Taylor. On 17 July 1869 the Society held their first public meeting in the Gallery of the Architectural Association at 9 Conduit Street, London. According to Crawford, "the chair was taken by Mentia Taylor and the audience heard for the first time women speak from a London platform in the furtherance of their cause."
With its establishment, the LNSWS joined the Manchester National Society for Women's Suffrage (MNSWS) with the intention of creating a federation of suffrage societies. Unlike the Manchester Society however, the LNSWS never operated from a formal office but instead gathered at the homes of its members and gave its official address as that of the secretary in post at the time.
The LNSWS promoted the cause for women's suffrage through the production and circulation of a range of pamphlets and publications and membership was open to all, including working men and women. The LNSWS split in 1871 with some members leaving to the form the Central Committee of the National Society for Women's Suffrage (CCNSWS). The reasons for the split were due to the objections of some LNSWS members to the MNSWS's intentions of forming a London-based committee of provincial members and also to the involvement of some MNSWS members in working for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act. In 1877 the LNSWS and CCNSWS merged, under the name of the latter society. By this time those most in opposition to the ideas of the CCNSWS were no longer active. (2)
Please see TQ2688583886 on the OS map dated 1871, scale 1:2500. (3)
Please see TQ2688583886 on the OS map dated 1935, scale 1:2500. (4)
Please see TQ2688583886 on the current OS map (MasterMap), scale 1:2500. (5)
By comparing the current OS map (MasterMap, 2010) with the OS map dated to 1871 (scale 1:2500) it is apparent that the current building may not be that which existed in 1871. The foot prints of the buildings are quite different. In the OS map dated to 1935 (scale 1:2500), the building's footprint is the same as that on the 1871 map, and therefore it appears the house was either rebuilt or extensively remodelled some time after 1935. As the house was occupied by Sir Alexander Korda until 1939, rebuilding probably didn't take place until after this date. It is possible the house was rebuilt after the Second World War, however, as according to source 1 the area suffered extensive damage during the war. (6)
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