Discover the stories of some of the most breathaking and historic great houses of London, along with their secrets, in this lavishly illustrated compedium.
London has awealth of truly stunning great houses, seen by many asone of the marvels of English architecture,and yet to many their histories, their interiors and their occupants remain unknown.
This book, illustrated throughout withsumptuous photography of these breathaking residences,reveals to us thissecret world of riches and splendour.
From thebaroque and imposing magnificence of 10 Downing Street, perhaps London’s most famous address, to theextraordinary Pre-Raphaelite mosaics of Debenham Houseto the confident,futuristic steel and glass of the Richard Rogers House in Chelsea,this book showcases these properties anddetails their origin as well as the many transformations they have undergonefrom their construction to the present day.
There are manyarchitectural wonders, among them Robert Adam’s 20 St James’s Square and William Burges’s Tower House. Several — including Bridgewater House with its Raphaels and Titians — have heldgreat art collections.
These are houses that holdextraordinary stories:half the Cabinet resigned after breakfast at Stratford House; and on 4 August 1914, at 9 Carlton House Terrace— then the German Embassy— young duty clerk Harold Nicholson deftly substituted one declaration of war for another.
Withphotography by the world-famous and multi-award winningFritz von der Schulenburg, this titlebrings these houses to life in all their grandeur, and text from historian and author James Stourton delves into the manyfascinating stories hidden behind the wallsof these homes.
Great Houses of Londonopens the door to some of thegreatest and grandest housesin the world totell the stories of their owners and occupants, artists and architects, their restoration, adaptation and change.
