Clementi House
The musical London ‘home’ of the young Felix Mendelssohn.
128 Kensington Church Street, Kensington, London, W8 4BH
- Guide dogs welcome
Clementi House was the London home of Muzio Clementi (1752-1832), composer, pianist, and ‘Father of the Pianoforte’.
One of the forte-pianos manufactured by Clementi’s company at that period is the front hall of Clementi House and tuned to a playable (if not performable) condition, with its original strings.
Through Clementi’s presence, the house became the musical ‘home’ in London of the young Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47). It was then the home of composer William Horsley (1774-1858) and his musical family, with whom Mendelssohn performed home-made operas in the drawing-room.
Mendelssohn was present at the betrothal in the house of Horsley’s daughter Mary to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, for which couple the composer dashed off a song. Its unpublished manuscript remains in the house till this day.
Clementi House was visited by many other outstanding musicians of the period, including Chopin, Bellini, Joachim, and Ignaz Moscheles.
Please note: The information on the Historic Houses website is advisory, but please always check the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling.
Clementi House is not currently open.
This house is not part of the Free for Members scheme, but is one of many houses on our website that we support to promote their tours, weddings, filming and other commercial offerings. To see all the places you can visit as a Historic Houses member, please visit our ‘Free for Members’ listings page here. Or to find out more about how the membership scheme works and how it supports our work to protect independent heritage, visit our page here.
Not currently open for visits
Not currently open for visits
- Guide dogs welcome
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