Orleans House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orleans House |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| General information | |
| Status | Partially demolished: the octagon gallery and its service wing remain and are Grade I listed |
| Architectural style | Palladian |
| Town or city | Twickenham, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |
| Country | England, UK |
| Coordinates | 51°26′50″N 0°19′08″W / 51.44731°N 0.319022°W |
| Construction started | 1702 |
| Completed | 1737 |
| Demolished | 1926 |
| Client | James Johnston |
| Owner | currently Richmond upon Thames Council |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John James James Gibbs |
|
Listed Building – Grade I
|
|
| Official name | Orleans House The Octagon Room and Service Wing Adjoining |
| Designated | 2 September 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1250280 |
Orleans House was once a beautiful country home built in 1710. It was designed in a style called Palladian, which is a classic and grand way of building. The house was located right by the River Thames in Twickenham, England. It was built for a politician and diplomat named James Johnston.
Later, the house was named after the Duc d'Orléans, a French duke who lived there in the early 1800s. By the 1900s, the house was falling apart. Most of it was torn down in 1926.
However, some important parts were saved! This included a special baroque octagonal room designed by architect James Gibbs. This room and a nearby service wing are now protected as a Grade I listed building. Today, these preserved parts, along with a converted stable, are known as the Orleans House Gallery. It's an art gallery that shows art connected to the local area of London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
History of Orleans House
Building a Grand Home in Twickenham
James Johnston decided to settle in Twickenham after his career in politics. He had worked as a diplomat in Germany. He often traveled to Hanover to help make sure the Hanoverian succession would happen.
It was said that King George I often talked with Johnston. He was also a favorite of Queen Caroline. She enjoyed his humor and fun personality. People also said that Johnston lived a grand life. Important people like Robert Walpole often visited his country house near London. The King himself sometimes even came to dine with him.
Designing the House and Gardens
Johnston was one of the first people to build a large home on the Thames in Twickenham during the 1700s. He got a lease for the land. Then, he hired the architect John James to design and build his mansion. This big project took about 35 years to finish.
The land around the house was very large. It included the area now called the Orleans House woodlands. Johnston created a beautiful garden. It had canals, an icehouse, and different types of gardens. There was a kitchen garden, a pleasure garden, and even a grotto.
The Famous Octagon Room
In 1720, a special baroque octagonal room was added to the house. This unique room was designed by the architect James Gibbs. It was built for entertaining King George II's wife, Queen Caroline. She really liked James Johnston.
A Royal Guest in the 1800s
In the 19th century, Louis-Phillippe, the Duc d'Orléans, lived in Johnston's house. He was in exile from France. He stayed there between 1813 and 1815. Later, the house was named "Orleans House" after him.
Changes in the 20th Century
| Established | 1972 |
|---|---|
| Location | Riverside, Twickenham, Greater London TW1 3DJ |
| Visitors | 56,000 annually |
Orleans House was torn down in 1926. The land where the house stood was then used to dig for gravel in the 1930s. Luckily, some parts of the property were saved. The outbuildings and the special octagon room were rescued by a local person named Nellie Levy. She later became Nellie Ionides. She left the saved buildings and her art collection to the local borough.
The octagon room became a listed building in 1952. In 1972, it was turned into an art gallery. In 1973, about 16 acres of the old park became the site for Orleans Park School.
Modern Updates in the 21st Century
Between 2005 and 2008, the buildings and site were updated. Architects Patel Taylor worked on the project. They added an education center and a cafe.
Orleans House Gallery
The Orleans House Gallery first opened its doors in 1972. It shows off art from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames's own collection. This collection includes a painting of James Johnston by Thomas Gibson. There are also paintings of Orleans House by Arthur Vickers and other artists. You can also see the Burton Collection. This collection has artwork, personal items, and photos from the famous explorer Richard Francis Burton.
Learning and Events at the Gallery
Orleans House Gallery is also home to the arts service for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It offers educational workshops for people of all ages. The old stables and coach house have been turned into spaces for these learning activities. The gallery can also be rented for weddings and other events.
Recent Restoration and Improvements
The gallery closed for a big restoration project. It reopened in March 2018 after 17 months of work. The project cost £3.7 million. Part of the money came from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Octagon Room has been carefully restored. The gallery also has better facilities now. The upper floor was made bigger to create more space. A painting of Queen Caroline has been moved to a new spot outside the Octagon Room.
Past Exhibitions to Explore
The gallery has hosted many interesting exhibitions. These have included watercolours and sketches by Richard Dadd. In 2003, the gallery held the first big show of Stephen Wiltshire's works. Another exhibition, Capability Now, ran from February to June 2016. It celebrated the 300th birthday of the famous landscape designer Capability Brown.
Gallery
-
Johnston's Twickenham house in 1844
-
Painting of Orleans House, Twickenham by British artist Joseph Nickolls (1689–1789), circa 1750, held at the Yale Center for British Art
See also
Note
