The property in Regent’s Park Road which could be converted into a new museum

A FORMER home of a socialist icon could be transformed into a permanent museum and meeting space in his memory after a librarian left the building to a trust in her will, the New Journal can reveal.

The Friedrich Engels’ house in Regent’s Park Road has been bequeathed by Caroline Amy Read, who has died after living there since the 1980s.

The Communist Manifesto co-author lived there for 24 years until 1894, holding regular debates and also writing political philosophy that continues to inspire generations today.

Now the trustees of the building, which has a blue English Heritage plaque, have revealed details of early plans to convert the building into Engels House.

They say it will be a space for young people to learn about the history of the working-class struggle, gender equality, and international solidarity, through regular talks, debates and exhibitions.

Engel House trustee Meg Ryan told the New Journal: “We want to mirror what Engels did while he was living in the house. He opened it up to the people for regular debates, and often with people that he didn’t necessarily agree with. We want to use it to make the world a better place.”

The concept of creating a destination for revolutionary socialists has not been met with universal approval on the Hill.

Privately, some residents have told the New Journal they are concerned about a central hub for the “loony left” opening in Regent’s Park Road.

The project’s other trustees include Jeremy Corbyn’s former top advisor Andrew Murray and CND vice president Dr Kate Hudson, National Education Union activist Michael Gavan, The World Transformed organiser Elliot Dugdale, Leah Jennings who has been working in Parliament for 15 years and teacher Meg Ryan who co-founded Show Racism the Red Card and was a close friend of Ms Read who was remembered this week for her “lovely book, Primrose Hill Remembered”.

Friedrich Engels was the co-author of the Communist Manifesto

Andrew Feinstein – who stood as an independent candidate for Holborn and St Pancras against Sir Keir Starmer in the 2024 general election – and former Labour MP Jon Trickett are also former directors of the trust.

There have been some concerns about large crowds attending events in the neighbourhood.

Residents have drawn comparisons with a project at the Dr Ambedkar Museum, a townhouse just around the corner in King Henry’s Road, which was set up in a similar way to celebrate the life of one of India’s founding fathers.

That museum was threatened with closure in 2019 following complaints about the large numbers of people visiting.

But Doro Marden, a longstanding trustee of the Primrose Hill Community Association, said she was “supportive” of the project, adding: “I think it would be great to have more things that are a bit cultural and alternative around here. Engels lived there for a long time. He discussed his ideas in that room – that is an amazing connection.

“One thing I read was that at Christmas he would invite lots of friends over and get them to stir a huge vat for home-made Christmas puddings, and then everyone would go away with one. He seems to have been very sociable.”

Engels moved to London in 1870 to be near to his very close friend Karl Marx.

Engels lived in 122 Regent’s Park Road with the Irishwoman Lizzie Burns, marrying her there on her deathbed in 1878.

He took daily walks in Primrose Hill, often with Marx who lived nearby, and opened up his home on Sundays for political debate among international socialists.

Routinely monitored by the security services while Engels was living in Primrose Hill, Engels wrote several new books: The Housing Question; Socialism: Utopian and Scientific; The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State.

He died on August 5 1895 and his ashes were scattered in the sea in Eastbourne.

Early plans for Engels House shared with Primrose Hill residents this week have been drawn-up by leading architects Caroe, but are yet to be lodged with Camden Council.

The project would see three homes in the building turned into the new community space, and some adaptations including the front steps removed.