Adam writes…
Legend has it… Some say… It is said…The story of Syd Barrett is littered with such qualifiers and we may never now separate the myth from the real story.
This much we know: the last known London address of Syd Barrett is here…
The 10-story Chelsea Cloisters block is composed of around 700 small flats. It once offered restaurant, cocktail bar, squash court and hairdressing facilities to its residents. Back in the early 70s two floors were converted into an hotel offering 260 rooms. The hotel had a long-standing arrangement with PanAm air crew but was controversial with the long-term residents.
These days it offers upmarket, short-term lets. Their website is here: chelseacloisters.co.uk/. Will they rent you Syd’s old flat? I have grave doubts that they wish such a Bohemian tale to be part of their image, but I don’t suppose it would hurt to ask.
Syd’s Place
Syd lived at number 902, his London residence on-and-off from 1973 until 1982. One of the larger flats, it is situated on the 9th floor.
As is often the case with Pink Floyd’s original songsmith, tales of his life at Chelsea Cloisters paint a troubled picture. Legend has it that he sat in his flat for days-on-end with seven TV sets all going at once. Some say he rented two apartments, one in which to live, the other to keep scores of expensive guitars, which he seldom touched. It is said when he did touch them, it was to give them away for free.
This reclusive denouement to his London years – his life played out in his native Cambridge from about 1982 – is punctuated by sightings of a shaven-headed Syd, an overweight Syd, even Syd in drag.
He was living at Chelsea Cloisters when he turned up, bald, overweight and unrecognisable even to his former bandmates in Pink Floyd. At that time the band was making the Wish You Were Here album at Abbey Road. Legend has it that the Floyd were working on a new Roger Waters’ tribute to his erstwhile band mate – Shine On You Crazy Diamond.
Map
So where is Chelsea Cloisters? Here’s your map…
Elsewhere In Syd’s London…
You can find a couple of other Syd locations on my TikTok & YouTube channels. Here’s one from Earl’s Court…
Join the Pink Floyd In 60s London walk or book a private tour: londonmusictours.org/pinkfloyd/
