The childhood home of music legend David Bowie will open its doors to the public for the very first time at the end of 2027. The unassuming two-up, two-down house at 4 Plaistow Grove in Bromley, south London, where the young David Jones lived from 1955 to 1968, is set to become a pilgrimage site for fans worldwide.
A Bedroom That Forged a Star
The restoration, led by the Heritage of London Trust, will meticulously return the property to its 1963 appearance, when Bowie was 16. Central to the experience will be the star's tiny teenage bedroom, measuring roughly 9ft by 10ft. Bowie himself once described this room as his "entire world," a sanctuary filled with books and records where his extraordinary ambition took root.
Curator Geoffrey Marsh, who co-curated the V&A's acclaimed David Bowie Is exhibition, emphasised the room's significance. "You think, someone who didn't have any big advantages... what was it that went on there which created this driving ambition to succeed, to want to be a star?" he reflected.
Magical Artefacts and Personal History
The house will feature never-before-seen archival items that offer intimate glimpses into Bowie's youth. These include his copies of the Observer's books, where he scribbled his exam results and, in a phase of loving Americana, wrote his name as 'David Jones Jr'. A cherished photograph of his hero, Little Richard, which he cut out aged around 10 or 11 and kept throughout his life, will be returned to its original spot on the bedroom wall.
Personal memories from friends have also helped shape the project. Artist George Underwood, who famously punched Bowie at school resulting in his mismatched pupils, and actor Dana Gillespie have provided recollections. Gillespie recalled visiting and being served tuna sandwiches, a contrast to her more "posh" upbringing.
Restoration and a Legacy for the Future
The complex restoration will be undertaken by conservation architects Julian Harrap. It involves stripping back modern layers to uncover original details like wallpaper, and removing later alterations such as a 1970s extension and an internal bathroom, which the house lacked in the 1960s.
Funded initially by a £500,000 grant from the Jones Day Foundation, the project is not merely a memorial. Inspired by Bowie's own Beckenham Arts Lab, it will host creative workshops for young people through the Trust's Proud Places scheme. "It's a platform for the future," said Marsh, aiming to demystify the creative industries and show the drivers behind Bowie's success.
A public consultation and planning applications for change of use are pending. The trust acquired the house directly from its long-term owners, who lived there from 1970. While the purchase price wasn't disclosed, the project highlights London's property history; a neighbouring one-bedroom house recently sold for over half a million pounds.
