New York apartment where Dylan Thomas died is saved after long legal battle

The Swansea-born poet was staying at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City at the time of his death

The apartment where Welsh wordsmith Dylan Thomas slipped into a coma four days before he died has been saved following a legal battle.

The Swansea -born poet was staying at the Hotel Chelsea, in Manhattan, New York City, when he was taken ill at midnight on November 5, 1953.

He was admitted to the emergency ward at St Vincent’s Hospital in a comatose state.

He died at noon on November 9 while still in a coma.

Nine-year legal battle

A nine-year legal battle to save the apartment where Dylan Thomas spent his last conscious moments has now finally been won after a campaign punctuated by protests and violence.

Arthur Nash, a young student museum consultant, befriended poet and biographer John Malcolm Brinnin, who had bought Thomas to America.

Around 20 years later, Mr Nash leased apartment 205 at the Hotel Chelsea, to discover that Thomas had stayed there on his last three visits to America.

Mr Nash maintained control of the apartment in spite of successive owners seeking to evict tenants with a view to redeveloping the building as a boutique hotel.

"Absolutely delighted"

Geoff Haden, chairman of the Dylan Thomas Society, based at Thomas’ birthplace in Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea, became involved in the fight to save the apartment after a chance meeting with Mr Nash in New York.

He said: “Although Mr Nash had a protected tenancy, a series of owners and developers used all means to move him and others out of the building and in doing so would have lost the last piece of history of which the hotel has more than its fair share with Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen among its past residents.

He added: “I’m absolutely delighted that the birthplace and society were able to help raise the awareness and pressure the authorities as well as petitioning the Registry of Historic Buildings in the US and contacting President Barack Obama and other politicians in the United States and this country.”

Great writer

The turning point in the fight came when Ira Drukier of BD Hotels, and a business partner of Robert De Niro, agreed a deal with Mr Nash to save apartment 205 through a legally binding agreement.

Mr Nash said: “This is a site where countless Dylan fans have paid homage. After such a long battle I’m thrilled that more of this great writer’s heritage will be preserved.”

Drukier agreed to preserve the footprint of the Thomas apartment including the kitchen and private bath.

All items not included, such as doors and windows, will form part of a future public exhibition about Hotel Chelsea’s history.