The Wick House
Encyclopedia
The Wick House is a house in Richmond, Greater London
, located near the corner of Nightingale Lane and Richmond Hill
in Surrey
. The painter Sir Joshua Reynolds commissioned the house in 1772.
Richmond Hill
has been part of the Royal Manor of Richmond since Domesday
. Richmond Park was enclosed by King Charles I
around 1635. The countryside was mostly agricultural land in the early 18th century, but Terrace Walk was laid out at the top of Richmond Hill in the later 18th century, followed by construction of a number of fine homes including The Wick House.
The Georgian-style house overlooks the Thames River and is near Richmond Park
, the largest urban park in the United Kingdom. The home was originally built for Sir Joshua Reynolds by Sir William Chambers in 1772, and Reynolds lived in the house from 1772 to 1792. In the late 1940s, funds were raised by the Joint Committee of the Order of St John
and the British Red Cross Society to purchase the building as a home for the nurses of the Star and Garter and as a home for disabled sailors, soldiers and airmen. Lord Wakehurst, Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee, opened the home in a ceremony in 1950.
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, located near the corner of Nightingale Lane and Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, London
Richmond Hill in Richmond, London is a hill that rises gently on its northern side from the ancient Thames meadowlands around the site of Richmond Palace up to and slightly beyond the Richmond Gate entrance to Richmond Park, the former royal hunting grounds enclosed by Charles I...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. The painter Sir Joshua Reynolds commissioned the house in 1772.
History
Richmond Hill, London
Richmond Hill in Richmond, London is a hill that rises gently on its northern side from the ancient Thames meadowlands around the site of Richmond Palace up to and slightly beyond the Richmond Gate entrance to Richmond Park, the former royal hunting grounds enclosed by Charles I...
has been part of the Royal Manor of Richmond since Domesday
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. Richmond Park was enclosed by King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
around 1635. The countryside was mostly agricultural land in the early 18th century, but Terrace Walk was laid out at the top of Richmond Hill in the later 18th century, followed by construction of a number of fine homes including The Wick House.
The Georgian-style house overlooks the Thames River and is near Richmond Park
Richmond Park
Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...
, the largest urban park in the United Kingdom. The home was originally built for Sir Joshua Reynolds by Sir William Chambers in 1772, and Reynolds lived in the house from 1772 to 1792. In the late 1940s, funds were raised by the Joint Committee of the Order of St John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
and the British Red Cross Society to purchase the building as a home for the nurses of the Star and Garter and as a home for disabled sailors, soldiers and airmen. Lord Wakehurst, Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee, opened the home in a ceremony in 1950.