Online: Holst House – Imogen Holst and Cadbury-Browns in Suffolk
ONLINE: Holst House – Imogen Holst, HT & Elizabeth Cadbury-Brown in Suffolk
Thursday 17 July 2025
Start: 6.30pm
Finish time: 8pm
This booking is for online Zoom lecture. For in-person event book here.
Join Alan Powers in exploring the history of 9 Church Walk in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. The Grade II modernist home was built 1962-64 to designs by architects HT (Jim) and Elizabeth (Betty) Cadbury-Brown, for the acclaimed composer, arranger and conductor Imogen Holst, daughter of composer Gustav Holst.
Jim Cadbury-Brown knew the Suffolk town from childhood and bought a plot of land there after a scheme to build an opera house failed. Instead, he built two houses, one for himself and a smaller one for Imogen Holst. Her rent consisted only of a crate of wine for the Cadbury-Browns at Christmas and a steady supply of Aldeburgh Festival tickets. She lived at 9 Church Walk until her death in 1984.
The Cadbury-Browns were key figures in British modernism. Jim worked with Ernõ Goldfinger and established his own practice in 1938. His notable work includes the Royal College of Art (1963). Betty was born in America, trained at Columbia University before moving to London. She formed a close professional partnership with Jim following their marriage in 1953.
The Imogen Holst house was recently acquired by the Aldeburgh Foundation and is available for visits and holiday lets. It complements the house museum to Holst in Cheltenham.
Alan will present the intertwined stories of these individuals and the contributions they made in their respective fields.
C20 Society Member £6;
Non-Member £8;
Young C20 member + guest Free*;
Student + guest £4 **
*For Young C20 members, please email coordinator@c20society.org.uk to secure a place.
**For student pricing please select from the dropdown option next to ‘membership number’ on the booking form below.
Click here for our latest cancellation policy.
Note: This event is hybrid and is being run both in-person at Cowcross Street Gallery and online via Zoom. The event will be recorded and offered as a catch-up lecture for those who have booked and will be available for two weeks.
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The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider.
The Twentieth Century Society is a registered charity, no 1110244
Image above: Holst House (1964) in Aldeburgh.
Image credit: modernistestates.com