Strawberry Hill House: Horace Walpole's Gothic Castle

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Horace Walpole, son of England's first Prime Minister, Robert Walpole, created 'a little Gothic castle' at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham. His seventeenth century house was greatly increased in size and adorned with battlements and towers to create a theatrical experience of architecture and design. He wrote the first gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, and began the craze for anything Gothic, which lasted well into the nineteenth century.



After extensive renovation Strawberry Hill House re-opened to visitors in 2010. It also hosts a wide programme of events and supports further learning on the subjects of Gothic Art and architecture, history and literature. In addition it is also strongly involved in outreach learning projects for all ages, as well as those with physical and learning disabilities.

Strawberry Hill is an assault on the senses and achieves exactly what its eighteenth-century owner set out to accomplish; to make visitors aware of its theatricality. On entering the house you are aware of the gloominess of the grey surroundings in the dark entrance hall and stairway, that were lit by a single candle in the gothic chandelier over the stairs, but your breath will be taken away by the sheer amount of glitz and gilding in the upstairs gallery.







The house is a building of contrasts; of grey and gloom, gleaming gold, gothic spires and richly coloured stained glass windows. Goths and lovers of bling will feel equally at home at Strawberry Hill. The refurbishment work is a continuing project as furniture is still being created to replace the contents of the house that were dispersed in 1842, and a request has gone out for eighteenth-century books to line the empty shelves of the library. The garden are also being re-laid out as they would have been in Walpole's time.



Visits are pre-bookable and accompanied by a video presentation and audio guides. However staff are available in all rooms and are bursting to share their knowledge in a passionate display for the property. Whether you love, or know nothing about, the Gothic I'm sure you'll fall in love with Strawberry Hill.





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