Osterley House

Order of Presentation

• Mark - History of Osterley Tudor mansion to the work of Robert Adam

• Sue -  Victorian Osterley and using that period of Osterley's history as the basis of a teaching opportunity by local schools

• Rob -   WW2 Home guard and Osterley

• Elizabeth - 'Step Change' and interpretation at Osterley • Yoonae - Commercial uses and access issues

The Tudor House

• Built 1564 Elizabethan merchant Sir Thomas Gresham

• Stables remain substantially intact

17th Century Osterley

• Various changes of ownership up to 1683 • Bought by Nicholas Barbon – property

speculator• Limited alterations made by Barbon

18 Century Osterley

• Child family ownership from 1713 due to foreclosure on debt owed by Barbon to Childs Bank

• Minor alterations • Francis Child inherits 1756• Starts remodelling Osterley

Pre Adam Alterations

• South Front 1760

• Gallery Fireplaces designed by Sir William Chambers

Robert Adam & Osterley

• Grand Tour 4 years in Italy

• Study of Roman domestic architecture

• Returns 1758

• From 1761 he was employed on a number of projects including Syon House

• 1761 – 1772 Adam worked at Osterley

The Adam Style

• Movement/Picturesque -contrasts and diversity of form

• Grotesque

Adam Style cont'd

• Exterior and interior design, decoration, furniture, and carpets

Competitors & Critics

• Adam inspired competitors – e.g. James Wyatt

• Fashions change – e.g. Greek Revival

• Critics – incl. Walpole “Mr. Adam's gingerbread and sippets of embroidery”

Osterley in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

A brief historySue Flockton

Early C19

• Inherited by granddaughter of Robert Child - Lady Sarah Sophia Fane

• Married George Villiers – planned to live at Osterley – renovations to house and furnishings

• Villiers succeeded to title in 1805 and Sarah became Countess of Jersey – nicknamed “Queen” Sarah – one of leaders of London Society

Sarah Countess of Jersey

Problems with upkeep!

• Did not live at Osterley but at Middleton Park and Berkeley Square

• Money spent on these left problems with Osterley – discussions in 1812 whether to let it or demolish it!

• 1832 – attempts to let failed – plans to build villas in park

• Nothing done till after Sarah’s death in 1867

The turn of the century

• House let to Dowager Duchess of Cleveland in 1872 – much cleaning, painting and repair

• Lived there till 1883• Jerseys planned to relet but gave a garden

party in 1884 – great success led to decision to use

• Weekend parties became famous – attended by many well known people

7th Earl of Jersey

Margaret, Countess of Jersey

• Need for money for restoration led to the contents of the library being sold

• Changes to make house comfortable for guests, although Adam rooms were looked on as a museum.

• Made use of Etruscan room as schoolroom.• Limited use in early C20 – some house parties• Put in electric light and central heating in 1925

– aim to let, but no suitable tenants.

• Last period on habitation was 1936/7 when family lived there while Middleton Park was demolished and a new house built.

• Opened to public 1939 and given to the NT in 1949

Interpretation and use for Education

The Victorians• One of most popular visits for schools• Based round the house parties• Pupils given a sense of what it would have

been like to work in a large house at this time• Group leader takes on role of housekeeper;

pupils take on roles of staff

• Based below stairs (note recent opening of this area to general public and discussions about interpretation)

• Learn about lives of servants – expectations of behaviour

• Hands on experiences

• Note – some areas now an art gallery

Servants’ Hall

Other education visits

Other education visits are/have been on offer – popularity varies, for example:

• Tudors – based in stables – life of a stable hand – stables through time – construction of buildings

The Stables

Example of brickwork

Inside the stables

Classical Stories and Design - influences in the house

• Focus on art – what’s in a picture – paintings in the Long Gallery

The Long Gallery

• Grounds also used for aspects of geography such as map reading, and science such as pond dipping.

• Other projects being developed include creating a sound trail linked to memories WWII

Osterley Park Home Guard Training Centre

Rob Smith

Tom Wintringham

Anti Aircraft Training

Engaging a tank

Home Guard receiving instruction in the Park

Osterley Park and House

In excess of 300,000 people visit the park every year, however, in 2007 only 37,500 visited the house and garden

Interpretation theme for overall Step Change project

Explore the extravagance of an 18th century country estate on your doorstep

National Trust Audience Categories Identified by Osterley

• Explorer Families

• Home and Family

• Curious Minds Adults

Multimedia Tour

The multimedia tour should be completed by July 2008

August – October testing and trailing

Official Launch – March 2009

Theme for the multimedia tour

Entrepreneurs and Entertainers: explore the Child family’s extravagant 18th century party palace

Key Stories

• Globalisation and the roots of Empire• 18th century bling• 24 hour party house• Below stairs• Tragedy and betrayal

Knowledge and understanding after the tour

• How the house was used for parties and entertaining?

• What was the origin and process of acquisition of the house’s collection?

• How does Osterley reflect conspicuous consumption?

• How does global trade have its roots in the 18th century?

• How did Osterley move into different ownership as a result of family tragedy?

Step Change Objective

To raise the profile of both Osterley Park and House and the National Trust, particularly in the local area

Osterley Park

Access & Commercial

Yoonae Park

Access issues•Public Transport -Piccadilly Line -Rail -Bus•Individual Transport-Car & Coach park-Bicycle-Shuttle service

Cycle Map

Commercial Uses•Wedding at Entrance Hall from April to September

•Jersey Galleries &•Garden Gallery•Adult Education

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*Conference

*Farm Shop * Shop

*Fishing on the lake

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* A wall in the park was background for album Band on the Run

*Film set

*Television Drama

•Tourist visiting•Primary & Secondary School Education Service•Baby changing facilities

Community Uses

*Tea Roomsat The Stableyard