Latest news with #AldeburghFestival
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful UK seaside town with charming high street named among the best
This little-known town in Suffolk is nestled between the picturesque River Alde and a stunning stretch of coastline, featuring a classic high street that is filled with thriving local businesses This breathtaking seaside town is a little escape from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding villages, providing an abundance of experiences and activities for visitors and residents alike. Aldeburgh in Suffolk is right in the middle of the River Alde and a stunning stretch of coastline overlooking the North Sea. This alluring town offers a whimsical escape from neighbouring towns and has even been named the best seaside spot by The Times. The little pebbled beach features a stunning four-metre-high sculpture of a scallop, created by popular Suffolk-born artist Maggi Hambling entirely of steel by Aldeburgh craftsmen Sam and Dennis Pegg, providing picture opportunities like no other shoreline. Steeped in charm and history, Aldeburgh is a town where every corner tells a story. Its colourful Georgian houses line the seafront, creating a picture-postcard setting that's every bit as charming as it is authentic. The town's heritage as a former Tudor port is still evident today, with historic buildings like Moot Hall, a 16th-century timber-framed town hall that now houses the Aldeburgh Museum. While in town, boutiques filled with clothes, art, and antiques line the high street, alongside independent bookshops and a classic cinema. The high street is also home to culinary delights, from the renowned fish and chips to fine bistro dining, pizzas, and, of course, it's not a beach town without some ice cream! When visiting the town, be sure to stop by O&C Butcher. This 130-year-old clothes store has everything you need and more to kit yourself out for a weekend on the coast, selling beloved UK brands like Gant and Barbour. You can even treat your little furry friend to a matching coat, too! Aldeburgh is well known for its link to Benjamin Britten, the founder of the Aldeburgh Festival, which takes place annually in June. The Aldeburgh Festival has been a pilgrimage for lovers of classical music and culture since 1948. The town is also praised for its outstanding fish and chips. The local fish and chip shop has been in operation since 1967 and has received an overwhelming number of positive reviews from national publications, ranking it as one of the best in all of Britain. There's lots to see and do in Aldeburgh, the historic Quatrefoil Martello Tower is a great immersive experience for the whole family, a relic of coastal defence from the Napoleonic Wars. Walkers have a wealth of enjoyable routes available in and around the town. Among these, the 9.7km Aldeburgh Circular Walk stands out as a popular choice, rated as moderate. This beautiful trail leads you along the striking Suffolk coastline and through the adjacent heath and meadow. Whether you're leaving the city, enjoying the local attractions, or simply looking to try the local chippy, Aldeburgh is an ideal spot for a family staycation.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Home of renowned composer given listed status
The former home of a renowned composer and conductor has been protected with Grade II listed status. Imogen Holst lived at 9 Church Walk in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, from 1964 until her death in 1984, and described the bungalow as "the loveliest house in the world". She was the daughter of renowned composer Gustav Holst - known for his seven-movement orchestral suite The Planets. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with the advice of Historic England, listed the home due to its architectural and historical significance. Holst became Benjamin Britten's musical assistant - who was also from Suffolk - and in 1952 she was invited to help him as he worked on the opera Gloriana marking the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. She later became the artistic director of the Aldeburgh Festival. Her Church Walk home was created by Jim and Betty Cadbury-Brown - designers for the 1951 Festival of Britain's Southbank site. Her rent consisted of just a crate of wine for the couple at Christmas and a supply of Aldeburgh Festival tickets. When thanking the Cadbury-Brown's for the house, she wrote: "My immense and perpetual gratitude for the loveliest house in the world." The property included some of her personal items such as her writing desk as well as her father's oak music cupboard where she stored his manuscripts. The house is owned by Britten Pears Arts and is available as a holiday rental. It is also open to the public every year for Heritage Open Days. Sir Chris Bryant, heritage minister, said the "significance" of the home "extends far beyond its status as an unassuming yet notable example of Jim Cadbury-Brown's architecture". Historic England's chief executive, Duncan Wilson, added that the home told of Holst's "contribution to British music and her connection to the Aldeburgh Festival, which continues to enrich our cultural landscape". Andrew Comben, chief executive of Britten Pears Arts, said: "The Grade II listing of her house will help us to continue to tell her story on a national and international scale." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Benjamin Britten's birthplace up for sale 'I'm graduating, not retiring,' says charity boss Britten's concert hall gets listed status upgrade Britten Pears Arts Historic England Department for Culture, Media & Sport
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Composer Imogen Holst's Aldeburgh home given listed status
The former home of a renowned composer and conductor has been protected with Grade II listed Holst lived at 9 Church Walk in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, from 1964 until her death in 1984, and described the bungalow as "the loveliest house in the world".She was the daughter of renowned composer Gustav Holst - known for his seven-movement orchestral suite The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with the advice of Historic England, listed the home due to its architectural and historical significance. Holst became Benjamin Britten's musical assistant - who was also from Suffolk - and in 1952 she was invited to help him as he worked on the opera Gloriana marking the coronation of Queen Elizabeth later became the artistic director of the Aldeburgh Festival. Her Church Walk home was created by Jim and Betty Cadbury-Brown - designers for the 1951 Festival of Britain's Southbank rent consisted of just a crate of wine for the couple at Christmas and a supply of Aldeburgh Festival tickets. When thanking the Cadbury-Brown's for the house, she wrote: "My immense and perpetual gratitude for the loveliest house in the world."The property included some of her personal items such as her writing desk as well as her father's oak music cupboard where she stored his manuscripts. The house is owned by Britten Pears Arts and is available as a holiday rental. It is also open to the public every year for Heritage Open Days. Sir Chris Bryant, heritage minister, said the "significance" of the home "extends far beyond its status as an unassuming yet notable example of Jim Cadbury-Brown's architecture".Historic England's chief executive, Duncan Wilson, added that the home told of Holst's "contribution to British music and her connection to the Aldeburgh Festival, which continues to enrich our cultural landscape".Andrew Comben, chief executive of Britten Pears Arts, said: "The Grade II listing of her house will help us to continue to tell her story on a national and international scale." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Bungalow which was home to composer Imogen Holst protected with listed status
A bungalow where the composer Imogen Holst once lived has been protected with Grade II listed status. Holst, who died in 1984 aged 76, was the daughter of the renowned composer Gustav Holst, who is best known for his seven-movement orchestral suite The Planets. Imogen Holst was also a composer and for 12 years she worked as an assistant to Benjamin Britten in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. In 1952, she was invited to help Britten as he worked on the opera Gloriana, marking the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Holst accepted and she became Britten's musical assistant, and later the artistic director of the Aldeburgh Festival. She occupied a series of lodgings and rented flats in Aldeburgh until 9 Church Walk became her home. The bungalow, designed by architects Jim and Elizabeth Cadbury-Brown, 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 for Holst and constructed on land owned by the Cadbury-Browns. Her rent consisted only of a crate of wine for the Cadbury-Browns at Christmas and a steady supply of Aldeburgh Festival tickets. In thanking them for the house, Holst wrote of her '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,' Holst wrote. She lived at 9 Church Walk until her death in 1984. The house features innovative design elements including a soundproofed music room where Holst worked and thoughtfully positioned windows framing views of the parish church. The property, now owned by the cultural charity Britten Pears Arts and available as a holiday rental, has many original features. These include 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. The house is open to the public every year for Heritage Open Days. Heritage minister Sir Chris Bryant said: '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.' Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: 'The listing of 9 Church Walk celebrates an architecturally significant modernist home and a significant piece of musical history.'
