This building on
North Crescent in Camden started life as a car
showroom, repair workshop and offices for the
Minerva Motor Company. Minerva was a
prominent Belgian automobile company during the
period from 1902 until 1938. As with other
companies of that period, Minerva started out
selling bicycles before moving on to motorized
bicycles and then in 1902 added cars to their
production. Apparently, Charles S Rolls
(of Rolls Royce fame) was at one point a Minerva
dealer. The company logo involved the head
of Minerva, the goddess of poetry, medicine,
wisdom, commerce, weaving, and the crafts.
Minerva House features a
statue of the goddess.
The building is Grade II Listed and described at
the time of its listing as being faced with , "...Portland
stone ashlar (and comprising)
4 storeys 5 bays. Symmetrical design with a
concave front corresponding to the crescent.
Ground floor openings with rounded corners
have billet moulding and are separated by
thin V-profile fillets. .....
...... Entrances in outer
bays segmental-arched with Mannerist detail;
part-glazed panelled double doors, inscribed
above "Minerva House" .....
..... Doric
entablatures with wreaths and drops at
bays. Bowed, stone transom and
mullion windows."
In 2017 the Grade II Listed
Minerva House is home to the Global Media
Agency OMD.
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