House of St Barnabas

The House of St Barnabas, at 1 Greek Street, Soho, is a Grade I Listed Georgian building in London notable for its rococo plasterwork interiors and for other architectural features.

Since 1862 the House has been run as a charity to help those who have experienced homelessness. The name of the organisation was changed from the "House of Charity" to the "House of St Barnabas" in 1951. The building functioned as a hostel for women until 2006.

The not-for-profit members' club at The House of St Barnabas opened in October 2013.

In March 1679, Richard Frith and William Pym were developing Soho Square, then known as Fryths Square. A timber merchant, Cadogon Thomas of Lambeth, held a lease for a great corner house, coach house and stables. Aristocrats who lived in the Restoration House included the second Baron Crew, Lady Elizabeth Cavendish and the dowager Countess of Fingall but the longest residence was of William Archer MP from 1719 until 1738. By May 1742 the original house had been demolished; the new house was built between 1744 and 1747, but it remained unoccupied until the lease was sold to Richard Beckford (a member of a wealthy family of Jamaican plantation owners and brother to Alderman William Beckford) in October 1754.

It is likely that the elaborate rococo plasterwork was added by Richard Beckford. Upon his death in 1756, the House was sold to Sir James Colebrooke with a conveyance stating that the previous owner had made some 'useful and ornamental furnishings'.

In 1811 the House ceased to be a residential property and was let to the Westminster Commissioners of Sewers. In 1855 the House was used by the Metropolitan Board of Works, and became the office of Sir Joseph William Bazalgette. It was during this time that the nineteenth century additions were made at the back of the House.

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