Conservation & Heritage Issue 52 Summer/Autumn 2026 - Flipbook - Page 68
museum’s band of volunteers, whose passion and dedication
are essential for the museum to open to the public, His Royal
Highness learned about Handel Hendrix House’s education
programme and its creative work in partnership with refugee
charities.
The Duke is passionate about the arts and gives much of his
time to organisations that enable young people to develop
their skills through theatre and music.
Penelope, Viscountess Cobham, Chairman of the charity
that runs Handel Hendrix House said:
“
It was a great honour to welcome His Royal Highness
The Duke of Edinburgh to Handel Hendrix House
today. His Royal Highness is an ambassador for
creativity, the arts and heritage in this country and
we were delighted to be able to share our 25-year story
and future plans with him, and to show him some
fascinating new items we are about to display. Our
volunteers in particular were thrilled to meet His Royal
Highness and appreciated his recognition of their
dedication and service.”
Simon Daniels, Director of Handel Hendrix House said:
“
which museum visitors explore the bedroom of the flat, he
shared with Kathy Etchingham which has been meticulously
recreated. Guitarist Nigel Jones, a regular performer and
teacher at Handel Hendrix House, brought the flat to life
with a burst of Hendrix-inspired music improvised for His
Royal Highness.
We are hugely grateful to His Royal Highness for
visiting the museum today and for his encouragement
for all that we do to look after the incredible musical
heritage at Brook Street, and to inspire everyone with
the stories and music of Handel and Hendrix. As we
enter our 25th year as a museum, it was a privilege to
share the work we do with The Duke, and we hope
more people will want to experience the museum – the
home of ‘Baroque ‘n’ Roll’.”
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The
National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that
connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage.
Hendrix In London is made possible with The National
The Duke also explored the home of the great baroque
composer G.F. Handel, who lived in the house next door
to Hendrix, which completes the Handel Hendrix House
museum. Here, His Royal Highness enjoyed a performance
by Nathaniel Mander on a 1750s harpsichord in Handel’s
own music room, and saw the exhibition Handel Through
Mozart’s Eyes, which includes a score in Mozart’s hand of a
string quartet based on Handel’s music.
Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players,
Handel Hendrix House has been able to acquire as yet
unresearched material related to Jimi Hendrix, and we will
soon be putting them on display at Handel Hendrix House
and making a digital catalogue of the collection accessible
online.
Handel was employed as a composer and teacher for the
Hanoverian monarchs, and his music manuscripts were
acquired by King George III. It was most likely King George
III who acquired a portrait of Handel by Thomas Hudson in
an elaborate, oval frame decorated with bullrushes alluding
to Handel’s support for the Foundling Hospital. This
portrait, part of The Royal Collection, was originally hung
at Windsor Castle but is now on display at Handel Hendrix
House.
The Duke also heard about the museum’s plans this year to
celebrate the 25th anniversary of the museum which first
opened in November 2001, which will include an exhibition
about Handel opening in September and a special musical
celebration in November. After meeting some of the
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