Visiting Keats

Fairly close to the hustle and bustle of designer labels, quaint coffee shops, and comfortable strollers, you'll find this spacious building with inviting lawns, and wooden benches. At first it looked like any other house we'd tirelessly walked past in Hampstead. On closer scrutiny....

Having studied Keats and the romantic poets in the distant past, I was interested. We took the lane to the back entrance of the house, where we could buy tickets for a tour.

Though Keats never owned this house, this building was specially significant because he penned some of his popular poems (the Odes) right here. It was here that he also met the love of his life, Fanny Brawne, who was also his neighbour.

Susan, a student of literature who has been visiting this house for over thirty years, played guide, as she walked us through all of the rooms, breathing life into the man who was John Keats. She began with her favorite room, the dining area, that houses a beautiful table that once belonged to Keats' friend and mentor, Leigh Hunt. It was through him, that Keats built his literary circle that included Shelley and Byron. A little over 5 feet tall, this sensitive young man was one who never avoided a good fight, added Susan.

From the dining area, we were led to his study, where we learned that he revered Shakespeare. In addition to a poster in his room, his ink pot with the Shakespeare bust was proof of how highly he thought of the playwright. His study also bears pictures of his family; brother Tom who also died of TB (his mother died of consumption as well), brother George who moved to America, and sister Fanny who eventually moved to Spain. A painting of Keats by his friend Severn (who accompanied him to Italy) is the focus of this room!

From across his sitting room, is Charles Brown's office, with a couch on which Keats often lay to look at the greenery outside.

Then came the Chester room. After Keats left London for Italy (where he died), his friends sold this house to a well-known actress of the time Eliza Chester. She remodelled portion of the house, by adding an additional room where she could entertain. Chester's room now proudly holds some of her portraits and one of Keats himself.

We were then led upstairs to Keats' bedroom, a tiny claustrophobic room that wasn't one of his favorite places. It was here that Fanny and her mother nursed him, after he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Beside his four poster bed are letters he wrote to Fanny, the woman he was engaged to. As a general practioner who never practised, he tragically knew his chances of recovering were slim.

Next door is Charles Brown's (a talented artist as well) bedroom, with a ancient box with his perfume bottles. This room leads to another tiny sitting area that now hosts Keats memorabilia. The engagement ring he gave Fanny, a jewelled broach, a lock of Fanny's hair, and a locket in the form of a lyre, that uses strands of Keats' hair as its strings.

Eventually, we were led to the last bedroom, which was then part of another house (where Fanny lived). We were in Fanny's bedroom, where she wrote Keats numerous letters that he never once read.

The tour was over, and after thanking Susan for a peek into history, we walked out. There it was.....

The plum tree that replaced the one beneath which Keats wrote "Ode to a nightingale" I had to take a picture!


Now maybe I'll be inspired enough to write that book?