Home of Musician Imogen Holst Listed in Aldeburgh, Suffolk
9 Church Walk in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, has been listed at Grade II by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.
The single-storey modernist home, built from 1962 to 1964, was designed and built by notable architects HT (Jim) and Elizabeth (Betty) Cadbury-Brown for the acclaimed composer, arranger and conductor Imogen Holst, daughter of composer Gustav Holst.
In 1952, Imogen Holst was invited to assist composer Benjamin Britten, who was working on his latest commission, the opera 'Gloriana', a work marking the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Imogen accepted and became Britten's musical assistant, then later Artistic Director of the Aldeburgh Festival.
Imogen occupied a series of lodgings and rented flats in Aldeburgh until 9 Church Walk became her home.
…my IMMENSE and perpetual gratitude for the loveliest house in the world. I think of you both every night of the year and send blessings in your direction for having enabled me to get on with my work in such heavenly quiet and solitude and comfort.
Imogen's rent consisted only of a crate of wine for the Cadbury-Browns at Christmas and a steady supply of Aldeburgh Festival tickets. She lived at 9 Church Walk until she died in 1984.
The house features innovative design elements, including a soundproofed music room where Imogen Holst worked and thoughtfully positioned windows framing views of the parish church.
The property has many original features, including built-in shelving systems, curtains with recessed tracking, and Holst's personal items such as her writing desk and coloured glass panel hung on the window in front of her desk to diffuse the sunlight. The property also houses Gustav Holst's oak music cupboard, where Imogen stored her father's manuscripts.
Britten Pears Arts now owns the house, which is available as a holiday rental, allowing visitors to experience the special atmosphere of this artistic haven. It is also open to the public every year for Heritage Open Days.
The significance of Imogen Holst's home extends far beyond its status as an unassuming yet notable example of Jim Cadbury-Brown’s architecture. It was here at 9 Church Walk where some of the greatest musical minds of the 20th century converged, exchanged ideas and laid the foundations of the Aldeburgh Festival – now a cornerstone of British classical music in its 76th year.
By listing this remarkable building, we preserve not only its architectural merit but also the rich legacy of Holst and her peers, ensuring their contributions continue to inspire generations to come.
The listing of 9 Church Walk celebrates an architecturally significant modernist home and a significant piece of musical history. The property tells the story of Imogen Holst's contribution to British music and her connection to the Aldeburgh Festival, which continues to enrich our cultural landscape today.
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