Link with social housing pioneers lost in switch of name to... Origin

THE loss of a famous name in social housing has been lamented by Camden’s former top archivist. 

St Pancras Housing Association – started in the former slums of Somers Town by Father Basil Jellicoe – will now be known as Origin. The housing association’s chief executive, Karen Wilson, stressed that it was business as usual but the famous name had been changed to avoid confusion among tenants.

Malcolm Holmes, awarded an OBE for his long service at Camden’s history and archive department at Holborn Library, wrote a book about the St Pancras Housing Association 10 years ago. He described it as “unique” and a “pioneer”, which in its early years in the 1920s spawned hundreds of other housing associations that borrowed its model. 

“I was very sad to see the name of St Pancras go,” said Mr Holmes. “I’m very sad for the people who have been long tenants and felt closer links to it in the past. It ran things in a very special way. It provided not just housing but looked at the needs of tenants. In the early days it was more or less unique.”

In the beginning – 1924 – the founders were “faced with the impossible and produced miracles” by fundraising and finding homes for everyone, from those in debt to others with family members in prison. If the local pub was no good, the association would set up its own. 

For his book, Housing is not enough: the story of St Pancras Housing Association, Mr Holmes interviewed staff and tenants. He said: “For people living in Somers Town, there was a special affection for the housing association in their hearts. But they felt it had lost its identity. They felt they were dealing with staff rather than people who knew them. There was a feeling of regret.”

In a letter to tenants, Ms Wilson explained the reasons behind the change of name, agreed on January 5: “The change… recognises that the organisation has diverse ‘origins’. We are proud of the history and intend to celebrate it in the work we do in future.” The name change would bring St Pancras and Humanist Housing (its latest name), Origin Housing and Griffin Homes under one banner, in part to cut staff costs. 

The housing association has nearly 6,000 properties and about 300 staff. Despite Camden’s vast waiting list for cheap-rent homes, it is selling an undisclosed number of flats in five mansion blocks in Gray’s Inn Road and Rosebery Avenue. Last year, it sold off £1.6million of new and old housing stock. It has pledged to use the money to build new properties, with 400 homes planned for north London and Hertfordshire this year.
CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS