Up with the politics, down with the social clubs

It wasn't going going to take long but no sooner had I mentioned College Crescent when I'm emailed by a resident about the traffic flow. :-)

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/10/come-and-drink-from-biscuit-fountain.html

But of course the other connection is that one of the most dominant buildings on the surviving College Crescent is number 36, The Phoenix School.

The Phoenix is a described on it's own website http://www.ucs.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=53
but in short it is nursery, pre-prep school for girls and boys that is part of the UCS (University College School) Foundation.

From the early 1880's this building was in fact the Hampstead Conservative Association and only ceased in this role following the winning of the Hampstead and Highgate seat by Glenda Jackson for Labour in 1992 (beating Oliver Letwin interestingly). In the aftermath of losing the constituency seat the Conservative Association moved out of College Crescent into their current offices in Heath Hurst Road, Hampstead.

The downsizing of offices is not a new thing and is illuminted more graphically by the collapse of the Liberal Clubs across the UK:
http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/02/days-of-liberal-clubs-round-country.html

The irony now for me is that I find myself as member of the Governing Council of UCS and thereby of the Junior Boys (Holly Hill) and the Phoenix School.

The days of Liberal clubs round the country

Hidden away on Heath Street, Hampstead is an old foundation stone for the former Liberal Club.

"HAMPSTEAD LIBERAL CLUB
Foundation stone laid by
SIR CHARLES RUSSELL Q.C. M.P.
20th July 1889
S.A.LYON. ESQ. TREASURER

Spalding and Cross, Architects
Allison and Foskett, Builders"

In 1880 the Hampstead Liberal Association was formed and worked out of 13 High Street but them moved to 1 Downshire Hill by 1885 (this appears to have been a correspondence address). it was then renting at 31 High Street in 1888 before moving to the newly built headquarters at 24 Heath Street from 1889.

The offices were still in operation in 1925 and disposal may have taken place any time after that - it certainly co-incides with the split and decline that then ensued in the Liberal Party.

It's just by the current zebra crossing opposite Tesco (the old dairy).

Sir Charles Russell as QC is pictured left here practising as a barrister.

If you google him then you can find a case he was involved in of BRACEWELL V BRACEWELL SMITH AND THRELFALL