Headley Grange


Headley Grange is a former workhouse in Headley, Hampshire, England, UK. It is a Grade II listed historic building. It is best known for its use as a recording and rehearsal venue in the 1960s and 1970s, by acts including Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, Peter Frampton, the Pretty Things, Ian Dury and Clover.
Today the house is a private residence.

Early history

Built in 1795, Headley Grange is a three-storey stone structure which was originally used as a workhouse for the poor, infirm, and orphaned. It was built for the poor of three parishes: Bramshott, Headley and Kingsley. It was the centre of a riot in 1830. The building was bought in 1870 by builder Thomas Kemp for £420; he converted it into a private residence, and named it Headley Grange.

Use as a recording and rehearsal studio

Parts of Led Zeppelin's albums Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin IV, Houses of the Holy and Physical Graffiti were composed and/or recorded at Headley Grange. Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant wrote most of the lyrics to Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" there in a single day. The Led Zeppelin song "Black Dog," which, like Stairway, appeared on Led Zeppelin IV, was named after a black Labrador Retriever which was found hanging around Headley Grange during recording.
According to Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page:
In an interview he gave to Mojo magazine in 2010, Page elaborated:
Peter Gabriel and other Genesis members have acknowledged writing much of the material for their 1974 concept album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway at the retreat.
Yazoo recorded the video for their track "Don't Go" at Headley Grange.
Bad Company's self-titled debut album was also recorded at Headley Grange; at that time, Bad Company were managed by Peter Grant, who also managed Led Zeppelin.

Depiction in ''It Might Get Loud''

In the 2009 documentary It Might Get Loud, Page is filmed visiting Headley Grange and discussing the recording of Led Zeppelin IV there. He discussed how the drums for "When the Levee Breaks" were recorded in the cavernous hallway, with its echoing acoustics.
He later recalled of this visit: