Camden New Journal - News: Poets’ legacy will live on at their old home

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Camden New Journal - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 8 November 2007

Restoring the property is the first objective, says Michael Corby

Poets’ legacy will live on at their old home

THE Camden Town home of French 19th century poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine has been sold by a property developer and is destined to become a literary centre honouring their cultural legacy.
Rimbaud and Verlaine, two of France’s most admired romantic poets, eloped to the house in Royal College Street in 1873 when it became common knowledge in Paris that they were having a gay affair. They produced some of the most respected works of French literature while living at the address.
The house, previously owned by the Royal Veterinary College, was placed on the English Heritage At-Risk register in 2002.
Property developer Michael Ogun bought the house in an auction last year. He said then that he planned to modernise the terrace of three houses and then sell them on in about five years time.
But he has now sold the poets’ former home, No 8, to retired civil servant Michael Corby. He has employed a designer and architect to draw up plans for the 1828 building, with a brief that includes performance spaces for poetry events.
Mr Corby said: “I will admit I do not particularly care for Verlaine but think Rimbaud is absolutely wonderful. My first objective is to get the place restored and then use this as a base to promote their works.”
He added: “Luckily there are a number of original features still there I plan to restore.”
When work on the house is finished, he hopes to bring in arts bodies to help manage the centre. Literary charity Poets in the City is in talks with Mr Corby about a possible role.
Poets in the City executive Graham Henderson said: “We hope to produce a plan to secure its future as some kind of cultural centre which will put poetry in the forefront of events at the property.”
Former Labour councillor Gerry Harrison, who has campaigned to save the poets’ home, wants Camden Council to back Mr Corby’s plans. He said: “Camden’s planners wrote me a letter in 2005 which says that the council will look favourably on any change of use from residential at this address in view of its historic and literary connections.”

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