Orleans House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orleans House
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 / 51.44731; -0.319022
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 grand country home built in 1710 in Twickenham, England. It was designed by architect John James for a important government official named James Johnston. The house was later named after Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, who lived there for a few years.

Sadly, most of Orleans House was torn down in 1926 because it was falling apart. But a special part, an eight-sided (octagonal) room designed by architect James Gibbs, was saved. This unique room and a nearby building are now part of the Orleans House Gallery. This gallery shows art and history connected to the local area, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

History of Orleans House

Building a Grand Home

James Johnston was a very important person in the government. He worked as a diplomat, which means he helped represent his country in other nations. After his career, he decided to build a home in Twickenham.

Johnston chose a beautiful spot right by the River Thames. He hired John James to design his new house. The building project took many years, from 1702 to 1737. Johnston also created amazing gardens around his home. These gardens had canals, an icehouse, and even a special area for growing fruit.

Royal Visitors and a Special Room

Johnston was friends with important people, including King George I and Queen Caroline. It was said that the King often visited Johnston at his country house.

To entertain his royal guests, Johnston added a special eight-sided room in 1720. This room was designed by the famous architect James Gibbs. It was built especially for Queen Caroline, who really liked Johnston.

A French Duke's Home

Later, in the early 1800s, a French duke named Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, lived in the house. He was in exile, meaning he had to leave his own country for a while. He stayed there from 1813 to 1815. The house was later named "Orleans House" because of him.

Saving a Piece of History

By the early 1900s, Orleans House was in very bad condition. Most of it was demolished in 1926. The land where the main house stood was even used to dig for gravel.

However, a local hero named Nellie Levy (later Nellie Ionides) worked hard to save the Octagon Room and other smaller buildings. She later gave these buildings and her art collection to the local council. In 1952, the Octagon Room became a listed building, which means it's protected because of its historical importance.

In 1972, the saved parts of Orleans House were turned into an art gallery. A nearby school, Orleans Park School, was built on part of the old estate in 1973.

Modern Updates

Between 2005 and 2008, the buildings and grounds were updated. New parts were added, like an education center and a café.

In March 2018, the gallery reopened after a big restoration project. This project cost £3.7 million and helped make the Octagon Room look new again. They also improved the facilities and added more space for exhibitions.

Orleans House Gallery Today

The Orleans House Gallery opened its doors in 1972. It displays many artworks from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames's own collection. This includes a painting of James Johnston and pictures of Orleans House itself by different artists. There's also the Burton Collection, which has art and items belonging to the famous explorer Richard Francis Burton.

The gallery is also a center for arts education. It offers workshops for people of all ages, using the old stables and coach house as learning spaces. You can even rent the gallery for special events like weddings.

Past Exhibitions

The gallery has hosted many interesting art shows. These have included watercolours by Richard Dadd and, in 2003, a large show of works by Stephen Wiltshire. In 2016, the gallery had an exhibition called Capability Now. This show celebrated the 300th birthday of Capability Brown, a famous landscape designer.

Images for kids

• 

  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

• Museum of Richmond
• Twickenham Museum