575 Wandsworth Road facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 575 Wandsworth Road |
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Entrance to 575 Wandsworth Road
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| General information | |
| Type | Georgian terraced house |
| Location | Clapham London, SW8 United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°28′11″N 0°08′26″W / 51.469671°N 0.140646°W |
| Owner | National Trust |
575 Wandsworth Road in London is a very special house. It was the home of Khadambi Asalache, a poet and civil servant from Kenya. He lived there until he passed away in 2006. After his death, he left his unique home to the National Trust. Today, the house is open as a museum for visitors who book guided tours.
Contents
A Home Full of Art
Asalache bought this Georgian terraced house in Wandsworth Road in 1981. A terraced house is one that is part of a row of similar houses joined together. He paid less than the asking price of £31,000. The house was not in good condition when he bought it.
For 20 years, Asalache decorated the inside of his home. He created amazing fretwork designs by hand. Fretwork is a type of decorative carving or openwork. He cut these intricate patterns from old pine doors and wooden boxes. His designs were inspired by Moorish art, which comes from North Africa and Spain.
He also added drawings of African wilderness to his woodwork. Plus, he displayed his collection of 19th-century English lustreware. Lustreware is a type of pottery with a shiny, metallic glaze.
Inspiration and Recognition
Asalache's unique home was featured in famous magazines. It appeared in World of Interiors in 1990. It was also shown in the Sunday Telegraph Magazine in 2000.
Tim Knox, who directs the Sir John Soane's Museum, described the house in Nest in 2003. He said it was a very serious and detailed work of art. The designs were inspired by the beautiful patterns found in Moorish kingdoms. These included places like the Great Mosque of Cordoba and the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. He also took ideas from doors in Zanzibar and old houses in Istanbul.
The National Trust Takes Over
Khadambi Asalache left his house to the National Trust in his will. The National Trust agreed to take care of the property. However, they needed to raise money to maintain it. They aimed to collect between £3 million and £5 million.
The National Trust saw the house as very important. They called it "a great work of art" and a key part of Britain's history. They believed it should be protected for everyone to see.
The house was officially listed as a Grade II building in 1974. This means it is a building of special historical interest. Its neighbor, number 573, was also listed. However, as of 2025, the official record still does not mention the amazing interior decorations.
Visiting the House
After a lot of important conservation work, the National Trust opened the house to visitors in 2013. You need to book your visit in advance to take a guided tour. These tours have become very popular with people who want to see Asalache's incredible artwork.
See also
- David Parr House
- Ron's Place
