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Strawberry Hill House

Come with me on a visit to; Strawberry Hill House. London’s little gothic castle.

Have you ever felt the urge to pop over to the Netherlands, purchase only your favourite bits and bobs from all of those old churches, ship them back home and create your very own geographically desirable gothic barbie dream house on the bank of the river Thames? I know. Me too.


Well one man did just that! Except it was more of a Ken house, if you will.


This m​id 18th century bachelor pad was built by one Horace Walpole. Fashioned to be his very own vision of a gothic castle. It is where he later wrote the first gothic novel; The Castle of Otranto.


Sparking off the gothic revival movement here in England. It was to be a place of inspiration, social occasion and speculation! Much of which ‘the man of letters’ wrote down for us to devour today.

Horace Walpole’s design was completed during his life time with pinnacles, battlements and a round tower! He continued to add to his project over the years making it ever more intriguing. As his collections of books, stained glass and antiquities grew so did the house.

Despite a few hiccups and a yard sale across the centuries, Horace’s vision for the house was mostly kept alive. This is thanks to the hard work of Lady Frances Waldegrave.


"Ly Waldegrave is certainly a very clever woman. Mr Fortescue is her 4th Husband!”  Queen Victoria.


Lady Waldengrave inherited Strawberry Hill House from her second husband. Along with numerous other properties. Lord Waldegrave sold much of Horace Warpole’s collection and left the house to rot. Lady Waldegrave took the gothic dream just that little bit further and restored what was left.



Between four marriages and a social calendar anyone would be envious of, she managed to not only repair and track down the many of the house’s missing features. She also expanded the house. Making many additions including; a grand drawing room, a dining room and a billiard room. Through all this she still remained faithful to Horace’s initial concept.


My absolute favourite feature of Strawberry Hill House has to be their Window of Henry’s located in the round drawing room. I just love it. For many reasons. It’s a beautiful piece of Victorian art work depicting six especially famous monarchs, family crests and mottos borrowed from husbands 1,2&3. But also because it’s a perfect example of how despite never having met, and not being related in anyway other than through marriage, Lady Frances Waldegrave and Horace Walpole most certainly were two peas from the same pod. Each using portraiture of another to ground their heritage and provide the illusion of aristocratic security that society so often depends on. In certain circles. Walpole would display the stained stained glass crests of families long forgotten, of biblical tales and ancient fictitious ancestors. Here Lady Waldegrave did the same thing. Provided herself with a narrative far different from the one she was brought up with. 

Who was Lady Waldegrave?

Well, she was Frances Braham. Daughter of the famous Victorian opera singer, John Braham. You may recognise his name from such hits as “The Death of Nelson”. Her father had grown up in poverty, an orphan on the streets of London.  Quite the contrast to where his eldest daughter would be some decades later. Or he himself! One of the most talented and famous Jewish men in England at the time. 


The Braham’s social climb within a single generation was pretty damn impressive.


At 18 she made her first leap. Marrying John James Waldegrave. The bastard son of the 6th Earl of Waldegrave. Who would not live out the year. And thus she took her next step, marrying his brother. A legitimate son of the 6th Earl of Waldegrave and at that point, the Earl himself. Pays off to be nice to your brother in law…



She went on to have a further two husbands. George Granville Harcourt & Chichester Fortescue, yup that was his name. With each of them came wealth and security as such was required back then.


Of course she faced, as anyone does, the ignorance and prejudice of others. Her new 'peers' often referring to her as 'the Jewish Lady Waldegrave'. Despite her Christian upbringing. And to those curious enough to ask directly more on her heritage , she would reply in jest "I am sure everyone will say that they are some of my vulgar relatives". This said it is believed that she was proud of who she was, where she came from. And proud of being Jewish.


With no children, after her death Strawberries Hill House was sold multiple times till it found it’s self in the hands of St Mary’s University College. Who still own it and take care of it today.


She was quite a brilliant woman. Reading about her has been an absolute delight, and sharing this information with you all even more so. One thing that has really been highlighted to me whilst writing this. Is how horrendously little there is written or clearly on display about this remarkable woman at Strawberry Hill. Despite the fact, that without her, it simply wouldn't be there today. I think it is a shame that in 2022 all we have is this online exhibition bringing these facts together. I really hope Strawberry Hill House are planning a physical exhibition sometime soon. As after all, she is already very present in that house, its time Horace passed her the microphone.

Strawberry Hill House, practical information.

Opening times: (these change seasonally)

House & Shop: Sunday - Wednesday 11am - 4pm.

Garden & Cafe: Sunday - Thursday 10am - 4pm.

Tickets:

Adult: £14

Under 16s: Free

Student: £7.25

Carer: Free

Nearest train station:

Strawberry Hill.

Direct train from London Waterloo then a short walk down the road. 

I would just like to say a big thank you to the team at Strawberry Hill House for allowing myself and @jayde_devine to take photographs and videos inside. Thank you. 

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