Burgh House
Encyclopedia
Burgh House is a historic house located on New End Square in Hampstead
, London
that includes the Hampstead Museum. The house is also listed as Burgh House & Hampstead Museum.
. At the time of construction the Hampstead Wells Spa was flourishing. In 1720 the Spa's physician, Dr. William Gibbons, moved to Burgh House, which he enlarged. He added the present wrought-iron gate which carries his initials.
One inhabitant of the house was Israel Lewis, who was an upholsterer. He was involved in a court case in which he was found guilty of creating a nuisance by "making an inclosed Dung stall" in his garden, and was fined ₤5 and made to remove it. Until the 1870s the house was known as Lewis House.
In 1858 Burgh House was taken over by the Royal East Middlesex Militia, and served as the Head-Quarters and Officers' Mess until 1881. The house returned to domestic use in 1884.
From 1906-1924 the house was occupied by Dr. George Williamson, an international art expert. He commissioned Gertrude Jekyll
to design the garden, although only the terrace now remains.
In 1925, a director of Lloyd's Bank, Captain Constantine Evelyn Benson CBE
, DSO
, bought the house for £4,750. He built the present music room on the site of Dr. Williamson's library.
Between 1933-1937, Rudyard Kipling
's daughter, Elsie Bambridge lived in Burgh House with her husband, Captain George Bambridge. Rudyard Kipling's last outing in 1936 was to Burgh House, to visit his daughter.
From 1937-1946 Burgh House was unoccupied. It was bought and restored by Hampstead Borough Council in 1946. The barrack blocks in front of the building were pulled down and in 1947 it reopened as a community centre with a Citizen's Advice Bureau in its basement.
The house was again closed indefinitely in 1977 when its new owners, Camden Council
, discovered dry rot
in the building. Threatened with proposals to turn the house over to a commercial use, local residents formed a charitable trust
and launched a "Keep Burgh House" appeal, as a result of which Camden Council granted them a lease for the House. On 8 September 1979, the House, restored by the Council and refurbished by the Trust, opened to the public as the house and museum that it is today.
, Bridge House Trust and many local benefactors. The refurbished building opened to the public on 16 July 2006. Burgh House currently hosts exhibitions and concerts, and is hired for weddings, receptions and other private events.
The first floor houses the Hampstead Museum, with permanent exhibits on local history and culture. There are also first floor and ground galleries for temporary exhibits of art, local history and culture. A cafe occupies the ground floor.
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
that includes the Hampstead Museum. The house is also listed as Burgh House & Hampstead Museum.
Brief history
Burgh House was constructed in 1704 during the reign of Queen AnneAnne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
. At the time of construction the Hampstead Wells Spa was flourishing. In 1720 the Spa's physician, Dr. William Gibbons, moved to Burgh House, which he enlarged. He added the present wrought-iron gate which carries his initials.
One inhabitant of the house was Israel Lewis, who was an upholsterer. He was involved in a court case in which he was found guilty of creating a nuisance by "making an inclosed Dung stall" in his garden, and was fined ₤5 and made to remove it. Until the 1870s the house was known as Lewis House.
In 1858 Burgh House was taken over by the Royal East Middlesex Militia, and served as the Head-Quarters and Officers' Mess until 1881. The house returned to domestic use in 1884.
From 1906-1924 the house was occupied by Dr. George Williamson, an international art expert. He commissioned Gertrude Jekyll
Gertrude Jekyll
Gertrude Jekyll was an influential British garden designer, writer, and artist. She created over 400 gardens in the UK, Europe and the USA and contributed over 1,000 articles to Country Life, The Garden and other magazines.-Early life:...
to design the garden, although only the terrace now remains.
In 1925, a director of Lloyd's Bank, Captain Constantine Evelyn Benson CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, bought the house for £4,750. He built the present music room on the site of Dr. Williamson's library.
Between 1933-1937, Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
's daughter, Elsie Bambridge lived in Burgh House with her husband, Captain George Bambridge. Rudyard Kipling's last outing in 1936 was to Burgh House, to visit his daughter.
From 1937-1946 Burgh House was unoccupied. It was bought and restored by Hampstead Borough Council in 1946. The barrack blocks in front of the building were pulled down and in 1947 it reopened as a community centre with a Citizen's Advice Bureau in its basement.
The house was again closed indefinitely in 1977 when its new owners, Camden Council
Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London...
, discovered dry rot
Dry rot
Dry rot refers to a type of wood decay caused by certain types of fungi, also known as True Dry Rot, that digests parts of the wood which give the wood strength and stiffness...
in the building. Threatened with proposals to turn the house over to a commercial use, local residents formed a charitable trust
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
and launched a "Keep Burgh House" appeal, as a result of which Camden Council granted them a lease for the House. On 8 September 1979, the House, restored by the Council and refurbished by the Trust, opened to the public as the house and museum that it is today.
Hampstead Museum
In recent years it has been further restored with backing from The Heritage Lottery FundHeritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
, Bridge House Trust and many local benefactors. The refurbished building opened to the public on 16 July 2006. Burgh House currently hosts exhibitions and concerts, and is hired for weddings, receptions and other private events.
The first floor houses the Hampstead Museum, with permanent exhibits on local history and culture. There are also first floor and ground galleries for temporary exhibits of art, local history and culture. A cafe occupies the ground floor.