Hampstead Conservatoire

The Hampstead Conservatoire was a private college for music and the arts at 64, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, London.^[1] One of the founders was Florence Ashton Marshall.^[2]

The building, previously the Eton Avenue Hall, was reconstructed in 1890.^[3] It was equipped with a large pipe organ, built ca. 1887-8 by the London firm of Henry Willis & Sons^[4] with forty-three stops spread over four manuals and pedals.

The hey-day of the conservatoire was 1896 - 1905, when its Principal was Cecil Sharp.^[5] Arnold Bax was one of its pupils between 1898 and 1900.^[6] It was also notable for an early and celebrated production of Dido and Aeneas in 1900 by Martin Shaw and Gordon Craig.^[7]

The organ was removed and transferred to St Peter's Parish Church, Brighton in 1910.^[8] The conservatoire had closed by 1928 when the building was converted into the Embassy Theatre. The building is now part of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama^[9]