Do you have personal memory of the old nursery at 42 Phoenix Rd? We’d love to hear!
The building is to be demolished ‘within a month’ and we want to capture memories.
Once the Margaret Club and Day nursery from the 1930s for “fatherless children”, and then the Hopscotch club, it holds many memories for generations of young people, children and nurses who once lived here.
Reminiscent for some to a Chinese Laundry it may have been influenced by orientalism fashionable at the time of building – we wonder?
It is to be replaced by student flats with no social housing nor green space planned, in after a tortuous planning application process that got the go ahead despite local feelings. It was on Camden Council’s List as a heritage asset and listed as a building of interest.
The Somers Town History club is interested in capturing any memories: somerstownhistory@gmail.com
Here are some photos:



I was at this nursery in 1952 and 53. We lived opposite in Polygon buildings. My mum was a cook’s assistant while I was at the nursery.
Glenys Weaver b25. 09.51.