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All the United Kingdom England London Black Cats of Carreras Cigarette Factory

Black Cats of Carreras Cigarette Factory

Black cat statues guard this temple-like Egyptian revival factory.

London, England

Added By
Kerry Wolfe
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CAPTION
Replicas of the original effigies to Bastet.   Benjamin John / Alamy
Yellow-eyed felines keep a constant eye on pedestrians.   Chris Sampson
Feline guardian within the wall.   Chris Sampson
Cats flank the entrance.   Chris Sampson
The most purrfect doormen.   Chris Sampson
The old Carreras Cigarette Factory.   Chris Sampson
Colorful, Egyptian-style columns line the wall.   Chris Sampson
Carreras Tobacco Company   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Mornington Crescent during construction of the Carreras factory   New Health, the open space campaigners' publications
  rosiejaq / Atlas Obscura User
Carreras Tobacco Company   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  segue911 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Walk by this old cigarette factory, and you can’t help but feel like you’re being watched. The faces of black cats line the wall, their yellow eyes constantly staring at the street. Two enormous cat statues man the door like feline guards ready to inspect anyone who attempts to enter. 

The Carreras Tobacco Company got its start in the 19th century as a small shop known for the local cat who frequently enjoyed napping in its window. The company adopted a black cat as its logo, and kept this nod to its humble roots even after its grand Egyptian revival-style factory was unveiled in the 1920s.

At the time people around the world were captivated by stories of ancient Egypt, thanks to the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Vibrant Egyptian-style columns were erected outside the building’s exterior and two regal cat effigies meant to symbolize the goddess Bastet guarded its entrance. Based on its original plans, the building was meant to take the shape of a temple to the goddess.

Even the factory’s grand opening was packed with Egyptian revival extravagance. Sand was dumped on the pavement outside to make onlookers feel as though they’d been swept away to the desert. Performance from the opera Aida paraded around the building and other actors donned themed garb to set the mood. A chariot race was even staged nearby.

But the factory’s Egyptian flair didn’t last for long. In the early 1960s, the building was converted into office spaces. Its signature decor was stripped away, and the two iconic cats that once sat outside the door were shipped off and separated. It wasn’t until 1996, when the building came under new ownership, that its former grandeur was restored. Now, the columns are once again vivid, black cats peer down from the wall, and replicas of the original effigies sit stoically near the door.

Related Tags

Cats Factories Art Deco Egyptian Revival History Architecture Statues Animals

Know Before You Go

The former factory is now the Greater London House office building. The replica cats can be seen out front. It's worth noting that the building, controversially, filled what had been a public green, Mornington Crescent, which is the reason for the building's odd crescent-shaped rear. This led to a successful campaign to preserve London's remaining open spaces. The nearby tube station is named for the vanished park.

Community Contributors

Added By

Kerry Wolfe

Edited By

lindacantoni, sfalanlewis, Jaszmina Szendrey, rosiejaq...

  • lindacantoni
  • sfalanlewis
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • rosiejaq
  • segue911

Published

June 1, 2018

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Sources
  • http://manchesterhistory.net/architecture/1920/greaterlondon.html
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=zJKF1MrmMpUC&pg=PA107&lpg=PA107&dq=Carreras+Tobacco+Factory+chariot+race&source=bl&ots=fKb2nXp0Pl&sig=7csvGN1k3qVJOHXuIbjxMUMC7TA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiy7vmpnr3bAhWL0VMKHTlPAJE4ChDoAQgrMAE#v=onepage&q=Carreras%20Tobacco%20Factory%20chariot%20race&f=false
  • http://architecturally.london/buildings/carreras-cigarette-factory
  • http://www.cabbieblog.com/cigarette-city-tour/
  • https://abeautifulbook.wordpress.com/2015/09/13/smoke-in-style-mornington-crescent-camden/
  • https://www.locallocalhistory.co.uk/ctown/p100/pages101-109.htm
Black Cats of Carreras Cigarette Factory
265 Hampstead Rd
London, England, NW1 7QX
United Kingdom
51.533608, -0.139608
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