Crippen initially took this property on a 3-year Lease on 21 September, 1905 at a Rent of £52 10 shillings p.a. (around £22,000 p.a. at present values). Thereafter, the Tenancy continued from year to year and the rent was paid regularly.
The tone of the neighbourhood had suffered in the mid 19th Century by the building of Holloway Prison (1852) and the Caledonian Cattle Market (1855).
Crippen’s property was a large 4-storey semi-detached house with gardens front and rear. The Front Door was at the top of a flight of 10 steps leading to the First Floor.
At the rear of the house, the Ground Floor door led to the Back Garden.
It consisted of 9 rooms. Beneath the front steps and level with the garden, the Ground Floor accommodation was divided into a Breakfast Room, Kitchen and Coal Cellar. On the First Floor were 2 Parlours where the Crippens did most of their entertaining. On the Second Floor there was the Master Bedroom, a smaller Bedroom, a Bathroom and a Lavatory; and, on the Top Floor, 3 small Bedrooms, one of which, latterly, had been occupied by the Crippen’s French maid, Valentine Lecoq.
Valentine, who was 18, had been hired by Crippen in Boulogne which he and Le Neve had visited for a Whitsun Break in May, 1910. Reportedly, Valentine spoke very little English and part of her duties was to teach her native language to Le Neve.
On 16th March 1910, Crippen gave his landlord, Frederick Lown, the requisite 3 months’ notice that he was leaving the property. Crippen’s explanation was that he was going to America, where he’d had property left to him. Lown asked him to put his notice in writing, which he did and he specified the termination date as 24th June 1910.
Lown received Crippen’s letter on 22nd March and, later, it was produced as Exhibit 56 at Crippen’s Trial.
Crippen then visited Lown between the 17th and 20th June and arranged to stay on until the 29th September.
In the event, he and Le Neve left hurriedly on 9th July 1910.
39 Hilldrop Crescent was destroyed by a German bomb during WWII.
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