Ridgmount Gardens was home to Robert Nesta Marley in 1972 when he first came to London to try and launch his career outside of Jamaica. Invited by American soul singer Johnny Cash to support his UK tour, Marley and his band the Wailers played gigs around the capital to try and land a big record deal; they ultimately met Chris Blackwell, owner of independent Island Records which led to international success and fame for the reggae stars. In 2006 for Black History Month, a blue cultural heritage plaque for Marley was unveiled at Ridgmount Gardens by The Nubian Jak Community Trust and mayor Ken Livingstone, celebrating it as the first London home of the ‘singer, lyricist and Rastafarian icon’.
The four bedroom apartment has views overlooking the communal gardens as well as the right to apply for access to Bedford Square Gardens. Built in the 1890s with a classic red brick façade, the building has retained its original features including period fireplaces and windows and is available for sale at £1.65 million.
Ridgmount Gardens is well located on the west side of Bloomsbury close to Goodge Street Station and Tottenham Court Road, providing accessibility to London’s top Universities including University College London. The area is surrounded by cafes, bars, restaurants and theatres, sitting in the heart of the capital.
Alison Battrick of the Dexters Fitzrovia office says, “This well presented apartment is a fantastic example of why Ridgmount Gardens has built such a reputation as one of Bloomsbury’s premier properties. The spacious and flexible living space is made even more attractive by the communal gardens and greenery. Ridgmount Gardens has a great history, once home to the reggae superstar Bob Marley, and now has a cultural blue plaque, making it a highly desirable home.”
Adapted from the original text written by Lawrie Cornish PR
