Carlyle's House facts for kids
Photograph of Carlyle's House, 2015
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| Location | Cheyne Row London, SW3 United Kingdom |
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| Type | Historic house museum |
| Owner | National Trust |
| Public transit access |  South Kensington  Imperial Wharf Cadogan Pier |
| Nearest parking | Limited metered street parking |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Designated | 24 June 1954 |
| Reference no. | 1358142 |
| Building type | Georgian terraced house |
| Open: Yearly | March–October |
| Open: Weekly | Wednesday-Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays |
Carlyle's House is a special historic home in Cheyne Row, Chelsea, London. It was once the home of a famous Scottish writer, historian, and thinker named Thomas Carlyle and his wife, Jane Carlyle. They lived there from 1834 until Thomas passed away.
This house became a museum thanks to public donations. In 1895, the Carlyle's House Memorial Trust took care of it. They opened it to visitors. Later, in 1936, the National Trust took over. The house became a Grade II listed building in 1954. Today, it is open to everyone as a historic house museum.
Contents
The Carlyles' Life at Home
In 1834, Thomas Carlyle decided to move from Scotland to London. He was looking for a new home. He found a promising house in Chelsea, close to his friend Leigh Hunt.
The Carlyles moved into 5 Cheyne Row on June 10, 1834. The street number changed to 24 in 1877. Their home became a very important place for thinkers and writers of the Victorian era. People from all over Europe and North America visited them. Thomas Carlyle wrote many of his famous books here, including The French Revolution.
About the House
The house was built in 1708. It is a typical Georgian terraced house. It was a comfortable home for the Carlyles, their servant, and Jane's dog, Nero. The house is kept almost exactly as it was when they lived there. It shows what a middle-class Victorian home looked like.
Many items of furniture that belonged to the Carlyles have been found and returned. The house also has some of their books. Many of these books are on loan from the London Library, which Thomas Carlyle helped to start. You can also see pictures, personal items, and portraits by artists like James Abbott McNeill Whistler.
Inside the House
The house has four floors. The kitchen is in the basement. The ground floor has the parlour, which was like a living room. On the first floor, you'll find the drawing room, which was also their library, and Jane's bedroom.
Thomas's bedroom was on the second floor. It is now where the house's caretaker lives. Thomas Carlyle found it hard to concentrate because of noise from the street. So, in 1854, he built a "soundproof room" on the top floor. This was where he could write in peace.
The house also has a small walled garden. It looks much like it did when Thomas and Jane lived there. The fig tree in the garden still grows fruit!
Stanford and Thea Holme
In 1959, a theatre producer named Stanford Holme became the curator of Carlyle's House. He moved in with his wife, Thea Holme, who was an actress. Thea started writing books about the Carlyles' lives in the house. One of her books was called The Carlyles at Home (1965).
See also
- Writer's home
