Arlington House (Camden Town)
Encyclopedia
Arlington House is a hostel
for homeless men in Camden Town
, London
which opened in 1905. It is the last and largest of the Rowton Houses
to be built and is the only one to remain in use as a hostel.
George Orwell
lived in one of the Rowton Houses and wrote about the experience in Down and Out in Paris and London
, his semi-autobiographical account of living in poverty in both cities. Brendan Behan
lived in Arlington House .
Arlington House was taken over by Camden London Borough Council
in the 1980s, but was subsequently privatised and later given without payment to One Housing Group (OHG) by the Novas Scarman group to ensure that building works were completed. the building was owned and managed by One Housing Group, undergoing major government-funded refurbishment, and due to reopen in 2010. There has been much criticism around this matter; see "What the press says", below.
One Housing Group issued a press release on 16 December 2009 in which they say that they would work with social enterprise partners City Dining, SPACE and Broadway. According to the press release City Dining is proposing to provide catering for residents and staff at Arlington and training for a group of customers, with the aim of offering them permanent positions. SPACE is proposing to run an art studio and creative space for residents, and eventually to develop opportunities for creative and media training. Broadway are in discussions to deliver an employment and training service for residents, and setting up a Business Centre providing training, conference and business support facilities.
In a 4 March 2010 press release OHG said that the refurbished Arlington House would be a modern building with 95 high-quality units for homeless people, 35 sub-market-rent flats, and 3,000 m2 of "social economy and training" space. The building is to reopen in 2011 after refurbishment with government investment.
Arlington House was opened after completion of major rebuilding by Mayor of London
Boris Johnson
on 10 June 2010. It is said to "feature hostel accommodation along with business units, artist studios, conference facilities and accommodation for low-rent housing for workers",
It has since been visited by several well-known people, including Tracey Emin
, Iain Duncan Smith
, Nick Clegg
, and
Prince Charles.
The Aisling Project is involved with the Irish Tenants Association of Arlington House, who constituted about a third of the residents before refurbishment. These tenants were generally older than the others, and had lived in the hostel for longer.
"Arlington House - address, no fixed abode
" is the first line of the 1984 top 20
song "One Better Day
" by Camden pop group
Madness
. The song is about homeless people.
"Men of Arlington" http://www.menofarlington.com/ is a documentary directed by Enda Hughes that portrays the tragedies and triumphs of the emigrant Irish in London.
Hostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
for homeless men in Camden Town
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
which opened in 1905. It is the last and largest of the Rowton Houses
Rowton Houses
Rowton Houses were a chain of hostels built in London, England by the Victorian philanthropist Lord Rowton to provide decent accommodation for working men in place of the squalid lodging houses of the time....
to be built and is the only one to remain in use as a hostel.
George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
lived in one of the Rowton Houses and wrote about the experience in Down and Out in Paris and London
Down and Out in Paris and London
Down and Out in Paris and London is the first full-length work by the English author George Orwell , published in 1933. It is a memoir in two parts on the theme of poverty in the two cities. The first part is a picaresque account of living on the breadline in Paris and the experience of casual...
, his semi-autobiographical account of living in poverty in both cities. Brendan Behan
Brendan Behan
Brendan Francis Behan was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright who wrote in both Irish and English. He was also an Irish republican and a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army.-Early life:...
lived in Arlington House .
Arlington House was taken over by Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London...
in the 1980s, but was subsequently privatised and later given without payment to One Housing Group (OHG) by the Novas Scarman group to ensure that building works were completed. the building was owned and managed by One Housing Group, undergoing major government-funded refurbishment, and due to reopen in 2010. There has been much criticism around this matter; see "What the press says", below.
One Housing Group issued a press release on 16 December 2009 in which they say that they would work with social enterprise partners City Dining, SPACE and Broadway. According to the press release City Dining is proposing to provide catering for residents and staff at Arlington and training for a group of customers, with the aim of offering them permanent positions. SPACE is proposing to run an art studio and creative space for residents, and eventually to develop opportunities for creative and media training. Broadway are in discussions to deliver an employment and training service for residents, and setting up a Business Centre providing training, conference and business support facilities.
In a 4 March 2010 press release OHG said that the refurbished Arlington House would be a modern building with 95 high-quality units for homeless people, 35 sub-market-rent flats, and 3,000 m2 of "social economy and training" space. The building is to reopen in 2011 after refurbishment with government investment.
Arlington House was opened after completion of major rebuilding by Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
on 10 June 2010. It is said to "feature hostel accommodation along with business units, artist studios, conference facilities and accommodation for low-rent housing for workers",
It has since been visited by several well-known people, including Tracey Emin
Tracey Emin
Tracey Karima Emin RA is a British artist of English and Turkish Cypriot origin. She is part of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
, Iain Duncan Smith
Iain Duncan Smith
George Iain Duncan Smith is a British Conservative politician. He is currently the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was previously leader of the Conservative Party from September 2001 to October 2003...
, Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
, and
Prince Charles.
The Aisling Project is involved with the Irish Tenants Association of Arlington House, who constituted about a third of the residents before refurbishment. These tenants were generally older than the others, and had lived in the hostel for longer.
"Arlington House - address, no fixed abode
No fixed abode
No fixed abode or without fixed abode is a legal term generally applied to those who do not have a fixed geographical location as their residence...
" is the first line of the 1984 top 20
Top 20
20 #1's Now is a 2007 compilation album by various artists and presented by reggaeton production duo Luny Tunes, released on November 20, 2007, by Machete Music.-Tracklist:# Welcome to My Crib – Randy "Nota Loka"...
song "One Better Day
One Better Day
"One Better Day" is a song by British band Madness from their 1984 album Keep Moving. The song was written by Graham McPherson and Mark Bedford. The song was released as a single in the UK, and spent 7 weeks in British charts peaking at number 18....
" by Camden pop group
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
. The song is about homeless people.
External links
- Brief History
- The Irish at AH
- Redevelopment Plans during Novas Scarman involvement
- Arlington House Conference Centre website
"Men of Arlington" http://www.menofarlington.com/ is a documentary directed by Enda Hughes that portrays the tragedies and triumphs of the emigrant Irish in London.
What the press says
- http://www.irishpost.co.uk/tabId/279/itemId/426/Hostel-renovation-works-bring-a-chill-for-resident.aspx
- http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6501754
- http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6502567
- http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6501663
- http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6501620
- http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6502139
- http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6502000
- http://www.thecnj.com/camden/2008/091808/news091808_04.html?headline=Fears_over_future_of_Arlington_House
- http://www.thecnj.com/camden/2008/120408/news120408_07.html
- http://www.thecnj.com/camden/2008/110608/news110608_02.html?headline=Investigators_pore_over_books_of_charity_behind_%C2%A322m_revamp_at_hostel