Cecil Sharp House

Cecil Sharp House stands as the purpose-built headquarters for the English Folk Dance and Song Society, constructed in 1930 to honor the man who dedicated his life to recording the nation's disappearing songs and dances. The building was designed with a focus on cutting-edge health and acoustics for its time, featuring special window glass that was believed to possess health-giving, ultra-violet properties. Its main performance space, Kennedy Hall, was built with a sprung floor to accommodate the high-energy movements of traditional country dancing, a design choice that remains essential to the building's identity as a hub for folk arts.