Erection date: 11/12/1995
Octavia Hill, a pioneer in housing reform built these cottages "for the people" in 1895. The were restored in their centenary year by the Octavia Hill Housing Trust.
{Below this there is a very small brass plaque:}
This plaque was unveiled by Baroness Blackstone, 11th December 1995.
Site: Octavia Hill - NW1 (1 memorial)
NW1, Ranston Street, 29/30
This charming street, still largely as built, was designed by Elijah Hoole. Most of it (5-11 and 21-37) is listed Grade II. It replaced the infamous slum Charles Street where W.T. Stead's prostitute, Eliza Armstrong, lived. As we researched this area we slowly cycled down a quiet side street passing a stopped car whose driver was having a mild dispute with two women on the pavement. We overheard one of the women say "I’m a reasonable person, I am - I can’t see me giving you a half hour and then walking off into the sunset without you paying me for it." Impossible not to be reminded of that other Eliza from this area and her "I'm a good girl, I am".
There is another plaque opposite, at number 8, "St Botolphs Cottages, 1895". And another one near number 34, which rather strangely, seems to have been placed in front of a down-pipe. The down-pipe has been repaired/replaced at some time, thus rendering the plaque illegible, but it used to read "Almond Cottages".
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them