A HISTORIC housing block for single women could be demolished with the final few tenants due to be kicked out this month.

Southern Housing has been clearing residents, some of whom are vulnerable, out of Ada Lewis House for the past two years so it can redevelop the hostel in Palliser Road, Barons Court.

Tenants have been told the owners want to sell the four-storey building, built after the First World War and updated in the 1950s and 80s, to property developers to turn into family homes – but the company has yet to reveal its plans.

Only a handful remain and say they are under pressure to move, claiming the courts forced one elderly resident to leave earlier this month.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: “They started off very aggressively to try and get us to leave two years ago but they eased off.

“We were offered alternative places to live and they have tried to find us somewhere else.

“But most of them are across the other side of London and not acceptable to us so we have been trying hard to fight it. But it is impossible.

“Last week a woman was evicted and there are only a few of us left now. It is really sad because this used to be a really lively, fun place to live. Now there is nothing. It is tragic.”

Another elderly tenant said: “They have not really told us much. All we know is that they want us out and we have no choice.

“This block was built specifically for social housing for vulnerable women and now it looks likely to be turned into flats and apartments.

“Surely that can't be right? But we are old and don’t have the energy to fight so we just have to do as we are told. They want us out by the end of June.”

In 1901, money lender Samuel Lewis left £670,000 in his will – the equivalent of £30million today – to form a charitable trust providing housing for the poor.

His wife Ada, herself a wealthy philanthropist, was concerned about the lack of decent housing for single, low-waged working women and used the money to set up the Samuel Lewis Housing Trust to tackle the problem.

It changed its name to Southern Housing Group in 2001 and is now one of England’s largest housing associations with a turnover of about £115m a year.

Dale Meredith, director of development at Southern Housing Group, said: “We are currently reviewing options for the future of Ada Lewis House.

“Once this internal review is complete, we will consult with the local authority about ways of taking this forward.”