Jazz pianist Jamie Cullum has visited the Camden-based piano shop Heckscher & Company as part of a BBC radio documentary in which he learns about the history of the area.
As was common in many cities, a huge number of piano makers had set up in the London area in the 19th century – some 100 or more according to the shop’s manager, Martin Heckscher. Their family-run shop was set up in 1883, and Jamie found out more about their past.
“Camden Town had some decisive advantages as a piano manufacturing base. It has a good transport infrastructure with the Grand Union Canal and the relatively new railway on the doorstep,” said Heckscher.
The second part of the BBC Radio 4 documentary Piano Pilgrimage is available online in the UK until Saturday 18th January 2014.
