I’ve read so many books over the years documenting the early days of British rock, it’s impossible to ignore what a pivotal role the Eel Pie Island Hotel played in the formative years of the careers of many important UK artists. In the mid-1960s, the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, Rod Stewart and David Bowie were all regular performers there. Prior to the rhythm and blues boom, it had also played host to many jazz bands, when the run-down nineteenth century hotel and ballroom became a hugely-influential venue during the 1950s trad jazz boom.
The hotel itself has long been demolished but the Eel Pie Island Museum opened its doors in 2018, celebrating the fascinating musical and boating history of this tiny 8.9 acre island in the River Thames. The museum, itself, isn’t actually on the island but just a short walk away from the banks of the Thames at Twickenham.
As I was staying in London overnight for a recent trip to the O2, I thought I would pay a visit to this small museum for the first time. Staffed by volunteers and costing just £5 to enter, it’s well worth a visit for any rock or jazz fan or indeed local history enthusiast.
There’s fascinating display of musical memorabilia and historical archives, as well as a roll call of all the celebrated artists who played there. It’s not just music either and there are also displays dedicated to the island’s boatyard history and its role as a place for artistic creativity and technical innovation, including being the birthplace of the clockwork radio, invented by the late Trevor Bayliss who had a home on the island.
Given the seismic roll that London has played in the history of popular music, the capital has been behind the curve somewhat in celebrating its world-class musical legacy – particularly in comparison to cities like Liverpool or Memphis. But I’m pleased to say that this is gradually being rectified and the Eel Pie Island Museum is an important addition to the capital’s music tourism scene.
For more information visit: https://www.eelpiemuseum.co.uk/
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