3 Irene Barclay: A Trailblazer in Housing Reform in Somers Town

In the heart of Somers Town, a neighbourhood known for its strong community and resilience, one woman’s legacy stands out as a beacon of social progress: Irene Barclay, Britain’s first qualified female chartered surveyor and a dedicated advocate for better housing.

Born in Hereford in 1894 into a politically progressive family, Irene Turberville Martin (later Barclay) was raised with a deep commitment to social justice. Her father, a congregationalist minister and pacifist, instilled in her the values of service and reform. After earning a first-class degree in History and a diploma in Social Science from Bedford College, London, Irene was drawn to the overcrowded tenements of London’s inner boroughs—where she discovered her true calling.

After the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act was passed in 1919, Irene made history by becoming Britain’s first woman chartered surveyor in 1922. She quickly joined forces with Evelyn Perry, another pioneering woman in the profession, and together they established a surveying practice that would change countless lives.

But it was in Somers Town that Irene Barclay’s impact was most deeply felt.

As Honorary Secretary of the St Pancras House Improvements Society, established by Anglican priest Basil Jellicoe, Irene emerged as a passionate advocate for improving slum housing conditions. From 1924 to 1972, she dedicated her efforts from her office at 1A St Martin’s House on Polygon Road, a location now honored with an English Heritage blue plaque.

Her groundbreaking surveys went beyond recording physical decay; they revealed the profound human toll of overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and predatory rents. Irene’s efforts sparked public awareness and paved the way for the establishment of housing associations throughout North London, including Kensington, Stepney, Bethnal Green, and the Isle of Dogs.

Known as “Irene, the patron of the poor,” she received an OBE in 1966 in recognition of her unwavering dedication to housing reform. Her legacy in Somers Town transcends bricks and mortar—it is a powerful story of compassion, courage, and community.