Consider the echoes of laughter that once filled this very space. This is 9 Orme Court. Look up to see the blue plaque dedicated to Eric Sykes.
Eric Sykes was a comedy legend. He is now honored with this special blue plaque in London. It marks his significant contribution to British comedy. The plaque was unveiled a year after his death in 2012.
Sykes shared these premises for over 50 years. His comedian pal Spike Milligan also worked here. Milligan has his own plaque too. Both plaques single out the building’s role in British alternative comedy. Laughter rang out across this sedate street.
From 1962, Eric Sykes rented this six-story building with Milligan. They created scripts for shows that defined a golden age of comic writing. A coterie of friends and collaborators joined them.
The unveiling ceremony was a special event. It took place on a Sunday morning in July 2013. Family and friends gathered outside his office at London’s Orme Court. Officials from The Heritage Foundation placed the dedication. Guests included Monty Python star Michael Palin, actress June Whitfield, and musician Les Reed.
This building is an 1890s terrace of Arts and Crafts buildings. It looks like a grand red-brick townhouse. The ornate first-floor balcony sits above the elegant entrance canopy.
Spike Milligan kept an office here during the 1960s and 1970s. His first-floor space at the rear had a fold-down bed. He also had a dedicated bedroom on one of the upper floors. Here, Eric Sykes and Spike Milligan crafted comedy gold. Their legacy lives on in the laughter they created. The Eric Sykes Plaque stands as a testament to his genius. It ensures that his humor will not be forgotten.