Photo credit: © 9 Hertford Street
Have you ever noticed this curious building on the corner of Burlington Gardens and Old Bond Street? It’s home to Atkinson’s Carillon which is the only carillon in London and one of only 450 in the world.
Carillons are pitched percussion instruments with at least 23 cast-bronze bells; they were designed to be connected to bell towers to play a melody at regular intervals. Mayfair’s example was built in 1927 atop the premises of Atkinson’s perfumer. It’s housed in a spirelet in the roof of the building. Its gentle chimes are absolutely beautiful.