Carlisle House, Carlisle Street, Soho, London

1936, a rare if brief history, in a fine Bickers & Son full leather binding

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First edition. Hardback, rebound in full red leather by Bickers & Son of London, with two raised bands and gilt titling to spine, boards bordered in gilt with corner design in gilt and green, with central motif of the doorway to Carlisle House, titled "Circa 1760 (Wren)". Top edge gilt, fore-edge untrimmed. 26 × 18.5cm, 31pp.

A scarce, brief history of Carlisle House in Soho's Carlisle Street, illustrated throughout with black and white photographs. The author, Joseph Brooke Wilkinson, was the Secretary of the British Board of Film Censors from 1913 to 1948. Built in the 1680s and (apparently incorrectly) attributed to Sir Christopher Wren, for the Earl of Carlisle. The house was sold in the late 18th century to Lord Delaval, and then to the celebrated fencing and riding master Angelo Tremamondo. In the nineteenth century, Charles Dickens used it as the model for Dr Manette's house in A Tale of Two Cities before becoming an antiques warehouse and a hotel. The British Board of Film Censors took up residence in 1936.

The history of the house after the publication of this book was short. It was destroyed in the Blitz during a heavy raid on the 10th/11th May, 1941 (a previous owner of this book claims the water marks to the boards were from the night of the Blitz as this book was apparently in Carlisle House and the covers were wetted from the firemen's hoses. I have no proof of this but it's an interesting story).

Condition

This is a very attractive copy, perhaps not meant for general circulation but an in-house publication for the BBFC. As mentioned, there are water marks to the front and rear boards (please see the pictures) leaving a darkened area and a tidemark. There is light spotted foxing throughout but the book remains in strong readable condition. A rare London history.