Honouring the two greatest musicians to ever come to reside in London, Handel Hendrix House had at one point housed Handel from 1723 until his death in 1759, and Jimi Hendrix, who over a hundred years later moved into an adjoining flat, at No 25 and 23 Brook Street respectively.
An unlikely, yet highly welcome, musical miracle that such two world-class musicians would pick the same spot in Mayfair to live, the museum presents these buildings as a celebration of their lives, their music, their influence, their stories, to highlight two significant moments in music history and their surprising convergence on a little street in West London.
The idea of turning Handel's former residence had been entertained since the early 20th century, until plans materialised in the 1990s, which, aided by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, set in motion an evolving set of plans which gradually subsumed Hendrix's neighbouring flat at 25, initially held back by the leaseholders reluctance to sell.
But in 2000, they acquired a 999 year lease for 25 Brook Street, following with a complete restoration of Hendrix's flat and Handel's ground floor and basement, a serious redevelopment including extended lift access and visitor facilities. The project is still ongoing, as 2021 marked the beginning of the Hallelujah Project, an attempt to fully restore the Handel's house and present new stories about Hendrix.
There's a lot going on at the house: every Thursday has talks from 2pm, bringing insight into Handel's time in Brook street; a guitar day once a month where, with your own guitar or one of theirs, you can participate in a jam session with resident guitarist Nigel Jones; semi-regular matinees and evening shows provided by the English Concert orchestra; it also functions as a venue, with several speakers and artists hosting one-off nights at the house.
Handel Hendrix House is a museum project in motion, ever-evolving and adding new pieces of lore to the stories of the two great musicians, with the exciting characteristic of knowing there will always be more to be added, more stories to be told. You could come back every year and there may be something different.
They highly recommend booking tickets online prior to attending, with adult tickets coming in at £14, student tickets at £10, and free for those with Blue Badge, National Art Pass, or if you're a carer or child under 16 with a family.
Details
- Address:
- Handel Hendrix House
- W1K 4HB
- Contact:
- https://handelhendrix.org/
- 020 7495 1685
- Transport:
- Bond Street