A slice of Britain’s musical and architectural history has just been given official recognition. 9 Church Walk in Aldeburgh, Suffolk – the stylish modernist home of celebrated composer, conductor, and arranger Imogen Holst – has been listed at Grade II by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, following advice from Historic England.

Built between 1962 and 1964, the single-storey house was designed by Jim and Betty Cadbury-Brown, renowned architects best known for their work on the 1951 Festival of Britain’s Southbank site. With its clean lines, thoughtful design, and connection to Aldeburgh’s vibrant arts scene, the property is a time capsule of 20th-century creativity.

Imogen Holst, daughter of composer Gustav Holst, was already an influential figure in British music when she moved to Aldeburgh in the 1950s to work alongside Benjamin Britten. As Britten’s musical assistant and later Artistic Director of the Aldeburgh Festival, she represented a cornerstone of the town’s artistic community. Yet, for many years, she hopped between rented flats – until the Cadbury-Browns offered her the chance to settle into her own purpose-built home.

Holst paid rent in the form of a crate of wine each Christmas and a steady supply of Aldeburgh Festival tickets. In a letter to the architects, she called it ‘the loveliest house in the world,’ praising its peaceful atmosphere, perfect for composing and studying music.

The house itself reflects both Holst’s lifestyle and the era’s modernist ideals. Original features include built-in shelving, recessed curtain tracks, and carefully placed windows framing views of Aldeburgh’s parish church. Then at the heart of the house is a soundproofed music room where Holst worked, surrounded by personal items like her writing desk, a coloured glass panel to soften the sunlight, and Gustav Holst’s oak music cupboard, used to store his manuscripts.

Following Holst’s death in 1984, the house became part of the Britten Pears Arts estate. Today, 9 Church Walk is available as a holiday rental and opens its doors to the public each year during Heritage Open Days, allowing visitors to experience the creative atmosphere that once inspired Holst’s work.

Sir Chris Bryant, Heritage Minister, highlighted the house’s dual significance: ‘It was here that 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.’

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, echoed the sentiment: ‘The listing of 9 Church Walk celebrates an architecturally significant modernist home and a significant piece of musical history. It tells the story of Imogen Holst's contribution to British music and her enduring connection to the Aldeburgh Festival.’

To further celebrate this recognition, Historic England is encouraging the public to share their memories, photographs, and stories about 9 Church Walk through the Missing Pieces Project, helping to build a richer picture of this important place.

For more information on 9 Church Walk and the Missing Pieces Project, visit historicengland.org.uk