Since 1952 Fenton House in Hampstead, London, has been home to one of the most important collections of early keyboard instruments in Europe. Cared for by the National Trust, the collection was assembled during the early decades of the twentieth century by George Henry Benton Fletcher, a man of extraordinary vision. An ardent advocate of the value of playing early music on period instruments, Benton Fletcher created a unique salon at his London home and made his instruments available to music societies and students for tuition, concerts and other cultural events.
After evacuation from London during the Second World War, the Benton Fletcher Collection returned to the capital and now comprises nineteen instruments, including harpsichords, spinets, virginals, clavichords and pianos. Together these provide a fascinating account of the history of the keyboard family. Several of the instruments are ornately decorated and many are extremely rare.
In this book, the first to look in detail at the collection, curator Mimi Waitzman traces the history of this outstanding group of instruments, assessing their importance and the significance of Benton Fletcher's legacy. Each instrument is considered in turn and presented with illustrations, historical information and technical details. The actions of the different types of instruments are also explained, both in the text and with scale drawings.