Bust

Kilburn head - 2 - Handel

Erection date: 1890

Site: Four musical heads - Kilburn (4 memorials)

NW6, Kilburn High Road, 70-72 Traid

We've numbered these heads left to right and identified them ourselves. Do let us know if you think otherwise. The building is very plain and these portrait octagons are not integrated into any design, just placed on the blank brick walls between the first floor windows, like an afterthought.

West Hampstead Life has the story on this building: In 1890 Alfred Phillips, already successfully publishing music and running a music shop at 43 Kilburn High Road (opposite what is now the modern Kilburn Library), bought numbers 70-72 Kilburn High Road. "He demolished the two existing shops and built one large warehouse with room for 70 pianos on the ground floor. The architect was E.A. Heffer and the builder H.B. Oldrey of Kilburn. Four composer’s heads (Bach, Handel, Mozart and Beethoven), are still visible at first floor level."

Without West Hampstead Life's list of the 4 busts we would not have been able to identify them.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Kilburn head - 2 - Handel

Subjects commemorated i

George Frideric Handel

Composer. Born Halle, Germany. Became Kapellmeister to the Elector of Hanover...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Kilburn head - 2 - Handel

Created by i

Alfred Phillips

Composer, publisher, piano dealer. Alfred William Phillips was born in Whitec...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Kilburn head - 2 - Handel

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

W. H. Smiths - WC2

W. H. Smiths - WC2

WC2, Lincoln's Inn Fields

There was apparently a bust surmounting this plinth with seat but - no more.

2 subjects commemorated
Morley mosaics - KEW - Mrs Mallet

Morley mosaics - KEW - Mrs Mallet

SE1, King Edward Walk, Morley College

These 10 portrait mosaics are the result of a project by Morley College to celebrate the achievements of significant women who have lived...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Charles Lamb - Giltspur Street

Charles Lamb - Giltspur Street

EC1, Giltspur Street, 10

Ornamental Passions have a good post on this memorial, saying that Lamb is shown in his school uniform and that Reynolds-Stephens designe...

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Morley mosaics - KEW - Heather Rabbatts

Morley mosaics - KEW - Heather Rabbatts

SE1, King Edward Walk, Morley College

These 10 portrait mosaics are the result of a project by Morley College to celebrate the achievements of significant women who have lived...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Keats House at Guy's - bust 3 - Hippocrates

Keats House at Guy's - bust 3 - Hippocrates

SE1, St Thomas Street, 24-26, Keats House

We are reasonbly happy with our identifcation of this head.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator