Legendary Iron Maiden rock star Bruce Dickinson calls for urgent support to restore Blake’s Cottage near Bognor Regis
A legendary rock star influenced by William Blake called for urgent support and funding to restore the poet’s former home in Felpham this week
Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson, who is the International Patron of the Blake Cottage Trust (BCT), visited the small Grade II listed cottage in Felpham where iconic poet, printer, artist and visionary William Blake (1757-1827) lived from 1800-1803 on Saturday.
It was in the cottage that Blake produced some of his most powerful work, including the four verses now known as our unofficial national anthem Jerusalem and the first great poetic manifesto for the protection of the environment and wildlife, The Auguries of Innocence.
Like many other artists across music, visual and written art forms, Bruce’s work has been inspired, shaped and influenced by William Blake.
Bruce said: “the work of the Blake Cottage Trust is of major significance. Blake is far more influential and loved throughout Britain and the world than many of our other creative geniuses, yet he has no memorial and education centre to promote his work.
“This must change, the nation, government and creative community must rally round to raise the £500k urgently needed to save the cottage and the £6m needed to establish a Blake Centre. Our Trust wants to bring economic growth to this beautiful seaside area, and create educational and artistic opportunities for a wide range of people.
“Saving and expanding this unique part of Britain’s cultural heritage should be the number one priority of us all. The National Lottery Heritage funding has been fantastic so far and enabled us to replace the roof, but there is a long way to go before we can remove the cottage from the buildings at risk register.”
Bruce added that he will be announcing some fund raising initiatives in 2026 to support this effort and supporting a call to have a Royal Mail postage stamp for Blake in 2027.
Doug Nicholls, Chairperson of BCT welcomed Bruce’s visit and commented: “Bruce’s voluntary efforts for this project reflect the massive and increasing local, national and international voluntary work going into this. This is a real testament to the enduring worldwide love of Blake and recognition of his relevance today.”
Blake’s cottage built in the mid 18th century as a small labourer’s abode and garden was in private ownership until 2014.
A National Lottery Heritage funding of £244,000 was secured in 2025 to replace the roof and begin the process of community engagement and business planning for a sustainable future.
Funding has also been received from a range of global, national and local organisation including the World Monuments Fund , the Architectural Heritage Foundation, The Foyle Foundation, the Garfield Weston, the Sylvia Waddilove Foundation and the Foulerton Charitable Trust.
Highly skilled specialist conservation crafts people have been employed to undertake the cottage restoration so far.
The cottage is on the Historic England Buildings at Risk register.
A recent archaeological report on the cottage has revealed a structure under 19th-century additions that corresponds to the form of the building as it was depicted in Blake’s two drawings of the cottage. Permission has been given to return it to its original condition so that future visitors will experience the cottage as it was when William and Catherine Blake lived there.
During Blake’s period at the cottage he was charged with sedition following what transpired to be totally false allegations by a soldier billeted in the village. Blake was acquitted in a trial held in Chichester in 1804.
The Trust has received funding to recreate an exact working replica of the printing press that Blake transported to Felpham. This will eventually enable print workshops to take place in the Blake Centre.
The estate of the American beat Poet Allen Ginsberg has recently donated to the Trust the harmonium on which Ginsberg accompanied himself as he sang some of Blake’s poems. It will form a prominent exhibit in an exhibition devoted to Blake’s influence on contemporary arts.
A small book written designed and printed by Blake The Songs of Innocence and Experience sold last year at Sotheby’s in New York for $4.3 million.____________________________________________________