I remember seeing pictures of Horace Walpole’s Strawberry Hill House back when I was a kid. When I realized that our friends’ new place in Kew was in the same neck of the woods and that the house has been recently restored, it seemed like a fun thing to do. It turned out to be somewhat interesting. They are doing a meticulous job in the restoration, but still have a ways to go and haven’t furnished it yet. Plus, they had not one copy of Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto in the giftshop.
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| The arches swing out, that’s how you get the books back there. |
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| Much more fun with books. |
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| John documenting himself. |
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| Give me my money! |
hogglestock 
This is on my own list of places to visit in London after the fascinating V&A exhibition. The gorgeous photos inspire me to go even more!
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Especially like the arches that swing out! Had always wondered with similar designs how that might work. Ingenious. Also like your tiny caption under last photo. :)
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The pictures from your trips are always excellent but these are extraordinary. It's hard to photograph fog effectively but John has done it.
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I love that little sculpture of the goat. Is it holding a shield?
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I'm adding this to my very long list of places to go next time I'm in London! I'm surprised they didn't have The Castle of Otranto in the giftshop though.
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LOVE all the pictures! Thanks so much for sharing them with us. (and those from John Sandoe as well)
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I could look at pictures of architectural detail until my eyes popped out! You're doing a great job of helping me plan my next trip, Thomas!
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I think Strawberry Hill is mentioned in Emma Donoghue's book Life Mask, with Horace Walpole as a minor character in it. It's a beautiful house. (What was in the giftshop then anyways??)
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there's a historic house near me (it's called Beauport) — one of my favorite places — which has a Strawberry Hill-inspired room, so it's nice to learn more about the original. I love those arches!
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Those bookshelves are pretty amazing and ingenius. Big words for a big idea! I think I prefer it ungilded but hey, what do I know?
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Wilmarth S. Lewis wrote a memoir called “Collector's Progress” about amassing his Horace Walpole collection. Really good, should you ever run out of things to read…
:O)
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Donna: Alas we didn't have time for the V&A on that trip. I love that place.
Frances: That last photo is like Walpole meets Fox's “Family Guy”.
Mary: He is my little Ansel Adams.
Jeane: It is a shield. There was one of these on each level of the staircase balustrade.
Helen: Takes a bit of effort to get to it.
Susan: There would have been more photos if there hadn't been so many tourists in the way.
Darlene: I hope they don't pop out.
Carolyn: The gift shop had a fairly nice quality of typical gift shop notions and some books on gothic architecture.
Audrey: I must look up Beauport.
Stefan: I agree about the gilding. The room with the gilding is actually done in papier mache not plaster (as was the original).
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Sarah: Just the title of Collector's Progress makes it sound very interesting.
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I spent the first 25 years of my life living half a mile from Strawbery Hill House. I've walked past it thousands of times.
But have I set foot in the place? No.
I know that it's only just been reopened, but it seems ridiculous. I shall have to plan a visit.
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