History & Heritage
Fenton House: Four Centuries of Collecting
James Calloway
17 April 2026 · 5 min read
The National Trusts oldest property in London hides a remarkable collection of keyboard instruments and porcelain behind its wisteria hung facade.
At the top of Hampstead Grove set back from the street behind a high brick wall and a walled garden of apple trees and roses Fenton House is the oldest surviving mansion in Hampstead. Built around 1686 it has the compact assured proportions of late 17th century domestic architecture at its best.
The collection of early keyboard instruments, harpsichords spinets clavichords and early pianos spanning three centuries, is one of the finest in existence. Many are kept in playing condition and during the summer the house hosts recitals filling the panelled rooms with the sound of Bach and Scarlatti on instruments the composers might have known.
The walled garden with its kitchen garden orchard and formal parterre is worth the entrance fee alone.
Written by
James Calloway
James is an outdoor enthusiast, urban walker, and nature photographer whose passion for the Heath began on childhood weekend walks with his grandfather. He documents seasonal changes, wildlife sightings, and the quieter corners of Hampstead that most visitors never find.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.