Our Club Donate Private Hire Membership Our Culture About Us Our Work Our People Contact Us OUR VISION IS TO CREATE A FUTURE WHERE SUSTAINED EMPLOYMENT IS A REALITY FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY HOMELESSNESS. But how? We create unique work experience opportunities through our Employment Academy, which operates at the heart of our not-for-profit members’ club in Soho. What say us? We are social pioneers driven by helping others to forge ahead. Our house is a place to meet, connect, exchange and realise ideas. Our common goal and success depends on our partners and on you. In short... We aim high and believe that everyone can go on an amazing journey to get there. Legendary Scottish actor Brian Cox takes time out to interview one of our former Employment Academy participants John Smallshaw. Help us to reach our target: If 15,000 people gave £5 it will enable 25 people like John to attend our Employment Academy. With your help we can make a difference to more people's lives. or TEXT 'JOHN20 £5' to 70070 OUR STORY 1679 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 Cavenish and the dowager Countess of Fingall but the longest residence was of William Archer MP from 1719 until 1738. 1746 The house was partially rebuilt by Joseph Pearce of St. James’s, a bricklayer, and George Pearce of St.Martin’s, a plumber. The lease - granted by the Duke of Portland in 1746 - shows that the Georgian ground plan of the House is largely unaltered since then. The stable yard is now the site of the Chapel. 1754 The rococo decorative scheme dates from 1754. It was probably designed by Sir Robert Taylor (1714-1788) under the patronage of Richard Beckford, an MP for Bristol, (1712-1756) who had acquired the lease but whose illness and early death deprived him of enjoying the masterpiece. 1811 In 1811 No.1 Greek Street ceased to be a private house and became the offices of the Westminster Commissioners of Sewers. Then in 1855, the Metropolitan Board of Works - with newly elected engineer Joseph Bazalgette – became its latest residents. During this period the nineteenth century additions were added at the back of the House. 1846 Meantime, 1846, Dr Henry Monro (1817-1891), a young physician, and Roundel Palmer (later 1st Earl of Selbourne, 1812-1895) worked with friends to found a House of Charity that would provide individuals with timely help. It rented what is now Artists House in Manette Street, a building that was originally designed by James Paine as St Anne’s parish workhouse and built in what was Rose Street between 1770 and 1771. 1859 In 1859, Charles Dickens’ ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ was published and immortalized the garden and a plane tree beneath which Dr Manette and Lucy were portrayed entertaining. The tree still stands in the garden between the two buildings that the Charity has occupied. 1862 In 1862, after half a century the local authority moved to new offices, the Charity purchased No.1 Greek Street and on Thursday 26th June the new premises were blessed. Catherine Gladstone, with help from her husband William, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, laid a foundation stone for a Chapel designed by Joseph Clarke FSA (c1819-1881). William spoke of the House as the only home of refuge “for the waifs and strays of the turbid sea of human society” and about the great advantages of the personal work of charity that associates of the House were performing. 1864 On Monday 27th June 1864 the first services took place in the new Chapel of St Barnabas, the saint whose name was later adopted for the House. By then sisters of the Community of St John the Baptist had moved into the old workhouse; we believe that they stayed there until 1899 but continued to help in the House until World War Two. 1957-58 During the Second War, the Chapel sustained bomb damage and the restoration, 1957-58, brought fine stained glass by John Hayward (1929- 2007), including St Barnabas holding the Chapel and a remarkable set of Stations of the Cross. 2005 In 2005, the trustees decided that it was no longer feasible to operate the House as a hostel. The last residents were resettled by Friday 31st March 2006 and we embarked on an exciting new journey of using the House for social enterprise. The integrated Employment Academy supports the original objective of helping individuals through personal work. 1679 1746 1754 1811 1846 1859 1862 1864 1957-58 2005 PHOTOGRAPHY Music and portraits www.tomoldham.com Interiors © Mike Tinney TWITTER New year new business? Get tips from our experts at the 3rd of our #rottensocials with @PioneersPost & @ErnestinaCH http://t.co/EttuoPy3db 09:00 AM Jan 08 New year new enterprise? Get inspired at last #rottensocials of the series with expert @bejaymulenga #businessgenius http://t.co/EttuoPy3db 02:00 AM Jan 08 Delighted to confirm Michael Solomon Profit Through Ethics will be joining us on 20 Jan for #rottensocial #businessgenuis @Responsible100 01:20 AM Jan 08 PRESS Femail Daily Mail on line Debenhams and HoSB partnership read more Vogue Confidential Blog read more Elle UK – CEO Sandra Schembri’s inspirational weekend read more Jarvis Cocker talks to Another Magazine read more SUPPORTERS 1 Greek Street, Soho Square, London W1 4NQ | Tel: 020 7437 1894 | ©2014 The House of St Barnabas | Registered Charity No. 207242 | Company No. 06854603 | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Rules of the Club Our business operating model is a not-for-proﬁt and all surpluses generated by the Charity’s trading enterprise The House of St Barnabas Events Ltd Company No: 06845128 are donated directly to The House of St Barnabas charity reg no 207242