Carlton Mansions

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History

When it was first built Carlton Mansions was described as 'of modern construction fitted for modern requirements'.

Carlton Mansions was built in 1899 and first occupied in the same year. Carlton was probably chosen as a name for the block because of its association with elegance and luxury, originally in connection with Carlton House (built by Lord Carlton in 1709) on which in the early nineteenth century, the Prince Regent spent an enormous sum of money. When it was first built Carlton Mansions was described as 'of modern construction fitted for modern requirements'.

Located on Randolph Avenue, the road had previously been known as Portsdown Road until 1939 and was then named after John Randolph (1749-1813) who was Bishop of London in the early nineteenth century and was previously Professor of Poetry in Oxford.

The mansion block is mentioned in the prestigious Victoria Country History series as, like other Randolph Avenue flats, Carlton Mansions was built to be in keeping with neighbouring houses. The South part of Carlton Mansions is built on the former site of the Kilburn and St Johns's Wood Rink.

From the start Carlton Mansions attracted well off residents. In the 1901 census the most common occupation of the residents in the mansion block was 'living off own means' meaning a private income. Other livelihoods included: stockbrokers, solicitors, manufactures, surveyors, teachers and a charted accountant, dentist, army officer and marine engineer, together with the more artistic occupations of musician, actor, writer, sculptor, painter of 'horses and birds', architect and photographer.

Some of the early residents had servants. A report in the Times in 1899 mentions intruders who were attempting a double burglary at 4 and 61 Carlton Mansions being caught by the servant and the caretaker.

Early residents of Carlton Mansions included the original owner of Ashworth Mansions and Biddulph Mansions, H C C Shaw, together with one of the architects of Leith Mansions.

The Times in 1913 also reported a young woman called Jennie Baxter of 24 Carlton Mansions being arrested for the murder of Julian Bernard Hall. The article thought that a man called Unwin was 'keeping her' at Carlton Mansions.

While little has been recorded on the block for some time, the 1984 planning permission records show approval given for seven new penthouse flats over numbers 64-90 Carlton Mansions.