During August the History of Design group visited Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham. Read John Holdstock’s account and view his pictures below.
The home of Horace Walpole was the destination for 7 members of the Group, who assembled at Riverside Station, early in July this year. Horace was the son of Robert Walpole, our first Prime Minister, who secured for him sinecures as Inspector of the Imports and Exports and then Usher of the Exchequer. These posts demanded little of him, but the second yielded £3,900 per annum and increased in subsequent years. Financially secure, he was able to pursue his passion for writing and art and his political interests. His lasting legacy is the transformation of a small 17th century house at Strawberry Hill into a ‘Gothic Revival’ villa, to hold his antiquarian collection. Work was carried out over 30 years, starting in 1746.
John Holdstock
Our thanks to John Holdstock for sharing his photos.