The asexual, the mistress, the whipping boy and the prince
We enjoyed a lovely day out in south-west London yesterday: we went to 4 houses near Twickenham/Richmond and all along the Thames.
The first stop was Strawberry Hill, where we visited Horace Walpole's 'Gothic castle'.
Walpole is credited with inventing the Gothic genre, with his "Castle of Otranto" 'gothic' novel. It was here that he got the inspiration one night when he "awoke from a dream and imagined he saw a giant armoured fist on the staircase".
The house re-opened 2 years ago after a long restoration project. It is simply wonderful to visit. Walpole spent a lot of time and money planning it and had a keen eye for dramatic effect and theatre! Sound suspicious? LOL!
Yes he could have been gay (his only relationships with women were with unavailable ones) or some say asexual.
He left a great legacy and also gave the English language a wonderful word: serendipity.
Next stop was Marble Hill, a house built for Henrietta Howard, George II's mistress
but the mistress did not receive us!
We crossed the Thames
on the 'foot ferry' and went for cream tea at Ham House.
Ham House was the house of William Murrey, Charles I's whipping boy.
We have visited the house a number of times,
so we just had a stroll around the gardens, which were 'enhanced' by some modern art
We crossed the Thames again
and stopped at Orleans House.
The palace takes its name from its most famous occupant: Louis Philippe, Duc d'Orleans and later King of France.
Only the Octagon Room remains
It was great to be out and about while the sun was shining, and to visit a couple of new places.
More pictures in the slideshow:
The first stop was Strawberry Hill, where we visited Horace Walpole's 'Gothic castle'.
Walpole is credited with inventing the Gothic genre, with his "Castle of Otranto" 'gothic' novel. It was here that he got the inspiration one night when he "awoke from a dream and imagined he saw a giant armoured fist on the staircase".
The house re-opened 2 years ago after a long restoration project. It is simply wonderful to visit. Walpole spent a lot of time and money planning it and had a keen eye for dramatic effect and theatre! Sound suspicious? LOL!
Yes he could have been gay (his only relationships with women were with unavailable ones) or some say asexual.
He left a great legacy and also gave the English language a wonderful word: serendipity.
Next stop was Marble Hill, a house built for Henrietta Howard, George II's mistress
but the mistress did not receive us!
We crossed the Thames
on the 'foot ferry' and went for cream tea at Ham House.
Ham House was the house of William Murrey, Charles I's whipping boy.
We have visited the house a number of times,
so we just had a stroll around the gardens, which were 'enhanced' by some modern art
We crossed the Thames again
and stopped at Orleans House.
The palace takes its name from its most famous occupant: Louis Philippe, Duc d'Orleans and later King of France.
Only the Octagon Room remains
It was great to be out and about while the sun was shining, and to visit a couple of new places.
More pictures in the slideshow: