David Bowie’s childhood home in South London is set to open its doors to the public for the first time, offering a rare glimpse into the formative years of one of music’s most iconic figures. The two-up, two-down house at 4 Plaiistow Grove, Bromley, where Bowie lived from 1955 to 1968, will undergo a meticulous restoration by the Heritage of London Trust, with the aim of transporting visitors back to the era that shaped the young David Jones’ creative vision.
The project, which has secured a £500,000 grant from the Jones Day Foundation, will feature never-before-seen archival items, including Bowie’s personal copies of the Observer’s books on music and architecture, as well as a prized photograph of his musical hero, Little Richard, which he had hung on his bedroom wall throughout his life.
“Standing in the room today felt extraordinary,” said Geoffrey Marsh, the co-curator of the V&A’s David Bowie Is exhibition, who will oversee the restoration. “You think, someone who didn’t have any big advantage, who came from an ordinary family, went to an ordinary school – what was it that went on there which created this driving ambition to succeed, to want to be a star, and which took him right through to it?”
The immersive experience will allow visitors to step into Bowie’s teenage bedroom, which he described as his “entire world,” where he spent countless hours lost in his books, music, and dreams of stardom. The restoration will aim to recreate the room exactly as it appeared in 1963, when the young Bowie was 16 years old, with a meticulous investigation into the original wallpaper, paint colours, and furnishings.
In addition to the archival treasures, the house will host creative and skills workshops for young people, inspired by Bowie’s involvement in the Beckenham branch of the Arts Lab movement. “It’s not just aimed at being a memorial to David’s extraordinary creativity,” said Marsh. “The music business can be particularly baffling if you’re a teenager, so part of the project is to work with young people and show them the drivers that helped David succeed, and which can hopefully help them succeed. It’s a platform for the future.”
The project will also shed light on the personal life of the young Bowie, with insights from friends and family members, such as the artist and musician George Underwood, who punched Bowie at school and left him with his distinctive mismatched irises. The actor Dana Gillespie, who visited the house, also shared memories of being served tuna sandwiches there, offering a glimpse into the domestic life of the Bowie household.
As the 10th anniversary of Bowie’s passing approaches, the opening of his childhood home promises to be a poignant and enlightening experience for fans and the public alike, offering a unique opportunity to uncover the origins of one of music’s most enigmatic and influential figures.
