Blake Congregation Says London Townhouse, Not Just Sussex Cottage, Could Open to Public

The directors of the William Blake Congregation, Helen Elwes and Stephen Micalef, have written to The Guardian disputing a claim made in an earlier letter that William Blake's cottage in Felpham, Sussex, is the only surviving residence of the poet that could ever be opened to the public.

The response, published as a letter to the editor, follows a Guardian editorial about writers' houses on August 18 and a subsequent letter from Richard Clemmow, a trustee of the Blake Cottage Trust, published August 25.

According to Elwes and Micalef, another surviving property connected to Blake, 17 South Molton Street in London, is not disappearing behind new development, as had been suggested, but is being carefully restored by its owner, the Grosvenor Estate.

The letter states that with sufficient support, the leasehold of the property could be acquired and transformed into a culturally significant museum dedicated to Blake.

The William Blake Fellowship has reportedly been in negotiations with Grosvenor Group and Grosvenor Property UK regarding the project for several years, according to the letter. The directors say the initiative has drawn backing from London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Tate Britain, the V&A, and English Heritage.

The letter also states that thousands of supporters, including artists, poets and musicians, have signed petitions and a letter addressed to the Duke of Westminster in support of the project.

Elwes and Micalef said the project is gaining momentum and expressed hope that, with sufficient support, the South Molton Street property could open to the public in time for the bicentenary of Blake's death on August 12 next year.