Orleans House, built on the Middlesex bank of the Thames in Twickenham in 1710, became home in 1737 to, (among others in it‘s 216 years), Madras-born British politician George Morton Pitt until his death nineteen years later in 1756, only to ultimately make way 170 years later for a gravel pit.
So. Today there is no Orleans House. Indeed, at the time of writing that‘s been the case for approaching 200 years. Originally commissioned by James Johnston, ((1655-1737) Secretary for Scotland under William III), it was demolished in 1926 to give way to a quarry from which gravel was excavated throughout the 1930s. The Orleans House Octagon Room and Gallery, however, avoided the same fate by the skin of their teeth thanks to the last minute intervention of a neighbour, Mrs. Nellie Ionides from Riverside House. More on this later.
Back to the house. Architect John James considered Johnston‘s request to build him a “simple yet substantial house“. He delivered a rectangular brick building with a central feature in Portland stone, which became one of the first and most important villas along this stretch of the Thames in Twickenham and Richmond. The original garden, which adjoined the first building “planted with rare and Choyce Flowers and divers small trees”, was arranged into formalised compartments, terraced and surrounded by a wall. When Johnston moved here “he amused himself with planting and gardening, in which he was reckoned to have very good taste”.
Painting of Johnston's “simple yet substantial house”, or Palladian Villa if you prefer, in 1844 (artist unknown)
Orleans House overlooked the River Thames, (about eighty yards from the front of the house in the above picture, or rather less if you allow for artistic license like in the drawing below), and sat within the only view to be legally protected by an Act of Parliament – the Richmond, Ham and Petersham Open Spaces Act of 1902 - that from Richmond Hill. (As we’ll learn in a moment, "protection of the view" was clearly a phrase open to interpretation, and didn’t extend to everything in it, including Orleans House).
Drawing (artist unknown)
The Octagon Room, visible in the earlier drawings to the left as we look at the house
It was constructed in 1720 in the Baroque style, being served by a kitchen, scullery, laundry and wine cellar with "room for fruit". It was set apart from the house until the introduction of a link building added by Morton Pitt in 1750. The interior was painted and gilded with ornate plasterwork by the Swiss stuccatori, (plasterers), Artari and Bagutti. The capric (18cio, (fantasy), scene of classical Roman ruins over the fireplace is a copy of the lost original that was attributed to Giovanni Paolo Panini. The room was designed by the Scottish architect James Gibbs as a building to curry favour with the royal family. In this respect it was successful, as both George I and George II visited, and Queen Caroline (wife of George II) and her children dined here in 1729.
Inside
Ceiling
More ceiling
Inside
Another notable resident of Orleans House was naval officer Sir George Pocock in the 18th Century, though arguably the most famous was Louis Philippe Duc d'Orleans, (later King of France), who rented the house during his exile from France from 1815-1817, after which Johnston's house became known as Orleans House. He enjoyed the tranquillity of Twickenham, writing: “I bless heaven, morning, noon and night that I am in my peaceful house in old Twick.” He became King of France in 1830 and revisited his former Twickenham home in 1844 accompanied by Queen Victoria. His son, Henri, Duc d’Aumale, lived here for nearly two decades from 1852, obviously equipped with stronger or less sensitive nostrils than Tennyson who a year later left his home nearby having been defeated by the stench of cabbage (see Post 37)). Henri built a gallery and library next to the house. His extensive collection of masterpieces, which he brought here by river, included two paintings by Raphael and works by the French and Italian Schools. These are now in the Chateau de Chantilly near Paris.
The vast majority of scenes of the building show it from the river, although its main entrance was from Richmond Road, reflecting how important the river view was in conveying status and promoting the concept of a country idyll. The house appears in paintings from Richmond Hill looking south-west down the river, an Arcadian vista that remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and attracted artists such as Turner and Reynolds who immortalised it in paint. Writer Sir Walter Scott described it as “an unrivalled landscape”, and Horace Walpole likened it to the finest views in Italy. See Post 35 titled "THE View" for more.
By the early 20th century the site was in decline, and Orleans House became derelict. In 1926 it was mostly demolished. Mostly. Enter the aforementioned Nellie Ionides, who we have to thank for arresting the downward spiral.
Born into a wealthy Hampton family, Nellie lived at Buxted Park in Sussex, and later Riverside House next to Orleans House. She was an enthusiastic collector from an early age, becoming an expert in Oriental porcelain. She also collected nearly 500 local views, which now form the core of the Richmond Borough Art Collection.
As mentioned earlier, in 1926 a firm of gravel merchants bought Orleans House. The main house and link building were demolished and replaced by gravel excavations which characterised the site throughout the nineteen thirties. Nellie purchased the remaining Octagon Room and stables to preserve what was left of the site, and prevent redevelopment. When she died in 1962 she bequeathed the buildings, the site and her collection to the then Borough of Twickenham.
The scars left by the gravel merchants were replaced over time by woodlands, which now provide a haven for wildlife. The lawns are now used for recreational activities, and in recent years a team of dedicated volunteers have started to plant flowerbeds to enhance the site.
The gallery opened to the public in 1972, and today’s thriving cultural and heritage hub is Nellie’s legacy for the local community - and anyone else who fancies a visit - to enjoy.
Click below for a 3-D trip around the inside of the Octagon Room, courtesy of friend John Royle who kindly explains "The camera has two lenses back-to-back which each capture a hemisphere. Software stitches them together and Google Maps (and other platforms) allows you to view the whole scene by swiping round. The camera is about the size of a Mars bar."
Nellie, (1883-1962), and friend
Red arrow: The Octagon Room
Comments