Cromwell House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cromwell House
Frontage to Highgate Hill
Alternative names	High Commission of the Republic of Ghana
General information
Status	Grade I listed building
Type	Diplomatic Mission
Architectural style	Stuart
Address	104 Highgate Hill, London, N6 5HE
Town or city	London Borough of Haringey
Country	United Kingdom
Elevation	360 ft (110 m)
Completed	1638
Client	Richard Sprignell
Owner	Republic of Ghana
Design and construction
Architect	Unknown

Cromwell House is a very old and important building in Highgate, a part of London. It was built way back in 1638. Today, it belongs to the Republic of Ghana and is used as the place where people can get visas to visit Ghana. It's a special building because it's a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered one of the most important historical buildings in the country.

Who Built Cromwell House?

Cromwell House was built for a man named Sir Richard Sprignell. He was born around 1603. Sir Richard went to Brasenose College, Oxford and finished his studies there. When his parents passed away, he inherited several properties, including some houses and land.

Sir Richard's Life and Family

Sir Richard Sprignell was a busy man. He became a Captain in the local army in 1634. Later, in 1639, he helped run Highgate School, a local grammar school. In 1641, King Charles I made him a Baronet, which is a special title.

Sir Richard married twice. His first wife was Anne Delaune. Her father, Gideon Delaune, was a chemist who worked for Queen Anne, the wife of King James I. Gideon was a very important member of the group of chemists called the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries. Sir Richard's second wife was Judith Chamberlaine, and they had many children together.

The Look and Story of the House

Nobody knows for sure who designed Cromwell House. But it was definitely built by a very skilled bricklayer! It was finished in 1638. The house has a regular front with seven windows, which shows the influence of a famous architect named Inigo Jones.

A Special Style of Architecture

Cromwell House is one of the best examples of a building style from the 1600s called "artisan mannerist." It's like Kew Palace in its unique design. The outside is made of fancy red bricks with carvings.

Inside, there's a very important oak staircase. It might have been inspired by a staircase in Blickling Hall, another grand house. Sir Richard had wooden carvings of soldiers from the Stuart period placed on the posts of the staircase. He also had his family's special symbol carved into the ceiling of the main room.

Changes Over Time

Later, in the late 1600s, another family called the da Costas added a new part to the house. They also added a special entrance for carriages. In the mid-1800s, when the house was a school, a dining hall was added. Sadly, a big fire in 1865 damaged the roof and top floor. In the 1900s, more offices were built at the back.

Rear view of Cromwell House

In the 1980s, when the house was empty, some old carved figures from the staircase and a marble fireplace were stolen. Many of the missing figures were later replaced with copies.

What Makes the House Special?

Experts describe Cromwell House as a "splendid example of Renaissance brickwork." It has a special roof with seven windows sticking out, and a small tower on top. The house has two main floors, plus a basement and an attic. The front of the house has special brickwork and stone corners. The windows were updated in the early 1800s. The front door is round at the top and has a glass panel to let in light.

Inside, the grand staircase goes all the way up to the second floor. Many doors, fireplaces, and ceilings inside the house are from the 1600s, with some additions from the 1700s. One large room is completely covered in wooden panels.

The brick walls around the front yard of the house are also very old, from the 1600s, and are also considered important historical features.

Why is it Called Cromwell House?

The name "Cromwell House" first appeared in a directory in 1809. It's likely that George Ranking, who bought the house in 1797, gave it that name. Before that, it might have been called "Highgate House."

The house was built during the time of Oliver Cromwell, a famous English leader. Because of its name, many people thought he or his son-in-law, General Henry Ireton, once lived there. However, records show that neither of them ever owned or lived in Cromwell House. In fact, there's no proof they were ever even in Highgate. The name "Cromwell" has also been given to other houses near London that had no real connection to him.

Who Lived in Cromwell House?

After Sir Richard Sprignell, his son, Sir Robert Sprignell, owned the house. Sir Robert sold the house in 1664 to George Hill.

The Da Costa Family

Five years later, the house was sold to Sir Thomas Hooke, who then sold it to Alvares da Costa in 1675. Alvares was a rich merchant from Portugal. His family had to leave their home because of religious persecution. They arrived in England with King Charles II's wife, Catherine of Braganza.

Because of the times, the da Costa family openly said they were Jewish. This made Cromwell House the first property in England owned by a Jewish family since Jewish people were expelled from England in 1290. The house became a central place for the large da Costa family, and they made it bigger to fit their needs. Important family members included the banker Moses da Costa and the artist Catherine da Costa.

Later Owners and Uses

In 1749, Sir John Thompson bought the house. After he and his wife passed away, it was sold to Thomas Saunders, and then to Samuel Provey. In 1797, George Ranking, a merchant, bought it.

From 1834, Cromwell House was used as a boys' school. First, William Addison ran it, then a Dutch poet named Gerrit Van der Linde. After the school closed in 1867, the house was leased to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. They used it as a place for sick children to get better, helping about 400 young patients each year.

The hospital moved out in 1924. Then, the Mothercraft Training Society took over. This group, started by Dr. Truby King, taught strict methods for caring for babies. In the late 1930s, they bought the house. They also built another building nearby called The Princess Elizabeth of York Hostel, which was used as the Truby King Home for Children.

In 1951, the Mothercraft Training Society closed. The Princess Elizabeth of York Hostel was sold to the Metropolitan Police Service for police officers to live in. Today, it's student housing. Cromwell House was sold to a missionary society, then to a Catholic group.

The building was empty for several years in the 1980s, which worried local people. In 1988, a developer bought it and fixed it up. After that, it was sold to its current owner, the Republic of Ghana. They use it as the Visa Section for their High Commission in London.

Gallery

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  Photo of carved figure from staircase of Cromwell House from the Survey of London

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  Photo of a carved figure carrying a musket on staircase in Cromwell House from the Survey of London

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  Carved figures from the staircase of Cromwell House, from the Survey of London

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  The Princess Elizabeth of York Hostel, built 1928–30, in the grounds of Cromwell House

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  Cromwell House

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  Staircase in Cromwell House 1870