Frome Court

Elton John's Teenage Home;
Where early Elton John songs were written;
Inspiration for the 1975 song "Writing"

Frome Court Click to enlarge. Copyright 1975 This Record Co. Ltd. Frome Court in 1975 As pictured on the lyric sheet for "Writing" in the 1975 Captain Fantastic album sleeve. Click to enlarge. Copyright 1975 This Record Co. Ltd.

Pinner Road
Pinner
London
England

On This Very Spot, Reginald Dwight lived with his mother and stepfather from the age of 15 in 1962 until his initial success as Elton John in 1971.

On This Very Spot, Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote early hits like "Your Song," "Skyline Pigeon," "Levon," and "Tiny Dancer."

Frome Court is actually the name of a building containing eight flats (two of which are pictured here, one up and one down). The building's top left flat is #3A, where Elton lived with his mother and stepfather, Fred Fairebrother. It was here that Bernie Taupin bunked with Elton during the weekdays so they could write songs together, an experience captured so beautifully in the song "Writing" on the 1975 album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

(Some confusion has been caused among American fans by biographical references to the "first floor flat" at Frome Court. In England, the first story is referred to as the "ground floor," while the second story is called the "first floor.")

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Condition: This spot looks essentially the same as it did at the time.

Public Access: This is a private residence and is not open to the public. DO NOT trespass on this property or disturb the occupants in any way. You can get a good view of the property from the sidewalk (see photo).

Parking: Public parking is available along the street.

Location: Pinner is located in the northwest part of London just south of the Watford area.

Nearest Major Airport: London Heathrow or London Gatwick

Nearest Subway: Northwood Hills

Directions: The easiest way to see the Elton John sights in Pinner is to take the Blue Line tube from London to the Northwood Hills station. The Northwood Hills Pub is directly across from the station. Turn right out of the station and go to the bottom of Joel Street. Continuing straight across will take you up Potter Street, site of Elton's second childhood home, which is on the left at 111 Potter Street. Turning right will take you down Pinner Road, site of Frome Court, Elton's teenage home which is on the left just past the sports fields. To see Elton's first childhood home at 55 Pinner Hill Road, continue up Potter Street and turn right onto Pinner Hill Road, or continue down Pinner Road, turn left on Pinner Green, then left onto Pinner Hill Road.

curtfranklin said ...

If Lennon and McCartney's childhood homes in Liverpool are owned and operated by the National Trust, why isn't Elton's childhood home? There's not even a blue circular plaque on the wall to signify the historical importance of "this very spot." We should start a letter-writing campaign.

posted on April 3rd, 2007