The internationally recognised home of romantic poet, John Keats, in Hampstead has been awarded funding to make improvements to its visitor entrance, garden, lighting, and toilet facilities.

Keats House has been awarded a £58,500 grant from the Camden Community Infrastructure Levy fund for an access project, which will be managed by Paul Vick Architects.

As part of the new work, the main entrance will be improved and made more accessible; lighting will be installed to illuminate the paths; and the toilet block will be refurbished. The Grade I-listed house, where Keats lived from 1818 to 1820, underwent a major refurbishment between 2007 and 2009, funded by the Heritage Lottery fund, to reconfigure the garden layout and planting.

Graham Packham, chairman of City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, said:

“My colleagues and in particular, the curatorial team at Keats House, and I were delighted that we received funding from Camden Council's Community Infrastructure Levy fund, for this important work. We are looking forward to seeing the changes made by Paul Vick and his team, and I am sure that these improvements will make a real difference to people who visit this beautiful house.”

Commenting on the project, Paul Vick, founder and director of Paul Vick Architects, said that he and his team are “delighted to be involved with such an important museum”.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Tel: 020 7332 1452 / Mobile: 07795 333060 / Email andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

ABOUT KEATS HOUSE:

Keats House, which is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation, is a Grade I listed building situated at 10 Keats Grove in Hampstead. It was home to the Romantic Poet John Keats from 1818-1820. Originally built as a pair of semi-detached houses, the property is now a museum and poetry centre. The museum is open to the public Wednesday to Sunday 11am – 5pm throughout the year, and the house hosts approximately 100 public events per year. It is situated in a landscaped garden, which also contains the Keats Community Library. Keats House oversees the management of the library building, which was recently awarded grade II listed status. The library service is delivered by an independent, volunteer-run community group. In 2016-17 Keats House received 33,800 visitors, of whom 22,000 visited Keats House; the remainder used the garden only.

Telephone 020 7332 3868. Email keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk – follow us on Facebook at /keatshousemuseum and on Twitter at @keatshouse / www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/keats

Keats House is closed to the public on Monday and Tuesday. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, 11am - 5pm. Keats House volunteers run guided tours of the House at 3pm. Tours last around 30 minutes and are included in the admission price, subject to availability.

Adults £6.50; seniors £5.50; concessions (students and job seekers) £4.50; children under 17 FREE; National Trust Members £3.25; National Arts Pass holders FREE. Entry to the Keats House Garden is FREE.

ABOUT THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION:

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles:

• We support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills projects. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust makes grants of around £20 million annually to charitable projects across London and we also support education with three independent schools, three City Academies, a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

• We also help look after key London’s heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London.

• We also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events and research-driven policies all reflecting a long-term approach.

See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.