Strawberry Hill House

The story of Strawberry Hill House begins in 1747 when Horace Walpole, captivated by its location, purchased ‘Chopp’d Straw Hall’—one of the last remaining plots along the Thames in the fashionable area of Twickenham. Walpole transformed the modest cottages into his vision of a 'little Gothic castle' complete with pinnacles, battlements, and a round tower. Thus, Strawberry Hill House became a popular tourist attraction during Walpole's lifetime and beyond.

Originally intended as a summer retreat, the castle quickly garnered interest from the local community. Ever the gracious host, Walpole allowed four visitors daily, with tours conducted by his housekeeper, although children were not permitted. He also enjoyed entertaining foreign ambassadors, royalty, and English aristocracy, many of whom were his neighbours.

Strawberry Hill House was pivotal in the emergence of Gothic Revival architecture in the 18th and 19th centuries. The design of the house, largely influenced by Walpole's friends John Chute and Richard Bentley—members of his ‘Committee of Taste’—drew inspiration from Gothic cathedrals across Europe. Chimney pieces, doors, and ceilings were crafted based on Gothic vaulting, medieval tombs, and rose windows, creating what the poet Thomas Gray described as ‘all Gothicism, gold and looking glass.’

After Walpole's death in 1797, the house passed to his cousin’s daughter, the renowned sculptor Anne Seymour Damer, and then to his great-niece, Elizabeth Waldegrave, in 1811. The house nearly fell into ruin under Elizabeth's grandson, George, the Seventh Earl of Waldegrave, who, after being imprisoned for 'riotous behaviour,' arranged a ‘Great Sale’ in 1842, selling most of Walpole’s collection over the course of a week.

Born in 1717, Horace Walpole was a key figure in 18th-century society, literature, art, and architecture. The third son of Sir Robert Walpole, Britain’s first Prime Minister, Horace authored ‘The Castle of Otranto,’ the world’s first Gothic novel, and founded Strawberry Hill House, which housed a vast collection of treasures.

Educated at Eton College and King’s College, Cambridge, Walpole was a man of many talents with an extensive network of influential friends. Following his education, his father secured several sinecure positions, providing him the income to pursue his creative and social endeavours. A Grand Tour of Europe from 1739 to 1741 further influenced the design of Strawberry Hill House.

Over his lifetime, Walpole was a prolific writer, leaving behind a wealth of works, including around 7,000 letters and a detailed account of his collection in ‘A Description of the Villa of Horace Walpole.’ His seminal work, ‘The Castle of Otranto,’ was inspired by a nightmare he had at Strawberry Hill House and was printed on his private press, the first of its kind in the country.

Lady Frances Waldegrave, born in 1821, was a colourful and empowered figure who was crucial in saving Strawberry Hill House from ruin. After marrying John Waldegrave, the grandson and successor to Horace Walpole’s great-niece, Elizabeth, she inherited the house. When John died after just one year of marriage, Lady Waldegrave married his brother, George, the Seventh Earl Waldegrave, thereby maintaining her link to the house and her title of Countess Waldegrave.

After George's death in 1846, Lady Waldegrave inherited a substantial income. In 1856, following her third marriage to George Granville Harcourt, she began to restore and expand Strawberry Hill House, securing its future. Her fourth marriage, in 1863, to Liberal Minister Chichester Fortescue cemented her reputation as a renowned hostess, entertaining the Prince and Princess of Wales and leading figures of the Liberal establishment.

In 1923, Strawberry Hill House was purchased by the Catholic Education Service, becoming the home and teaching quarters of the Vincentian Fathers in 1925. Over the years, the student body of St Mary’s University College grew from 250 to over 3,500 students, leading to significant changes in the college's curriculum and facilities. The house was repurposed and redecorated to meet the needs of the growing student population, with art classes even being held in the Gallery.

The Gardens of Strawberry Hill House, inspired by William Kent and the English Landscape Movement, were designed to complement the Gothic castle. Walpole created a romantic garden with formal borders, groves of trees and shrubs, winding paths, and a fine lawn that led to the River Thames. Although the views have been lost to housing and woodland growth, the garden's layout and many original features have been carefully restored to their 18th-century appearance using maps, paintings, and Walpole’s writings. The five-acre garden, now Grade II* listed, is a nationally important reminder of a fascinating period in garden history.