In his post about Hogarth’s The Rake’s Progress a few weeks ago, Tony Grant mentioned Brunswick House as a possible stand-in for Tom’s inherited home. Brunswick House was built in 1758 on #30 Wandsworth Road and was the former home to the Dukes of Brunswick.
It sat on 3 acres of land along the South Bank of the Thames River near what was once Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. This once popular entertainment destination, with its vast gardens, pavilions, and nightly illuminations, looms large in Georgian biographies and novels and modern books set in the Regency era.
The 3-story house, almost square in shape, was once described as a mansion house with offices, coach-house, and a stables. Its surroundings, once filled with vistas of green fields, woods, and river, is now crammed with tall buildings and flats made of concrete, steel and glass.
This relic of the Georgian era sits in Nine Elms on the South Bank opposite Vauxhall Tube Station and next to the green glass edifice of MI5…
…its centrally placed semi-elliptical porch of painted Coade’ stone facing busy Wandsworth Road, where cars, lorries, and buses rush by at a fast pace.
The porch
“has two free-standing and two engaged columns with enriched moulded bases, fluted and cabled shafts, and water-leaf capitals. The entablature has a frieze decoration of rams’ skulls linked by floral festoons, and the cornice bedmouldings are enriched. The surmounting blocking-course continues the lines of the first-floor platband.” – British History Online
While Brunswick house’s exterior remains largely as it once was, the interior has changed so much that the original plans are no longer discernable. Today the structure is the home of LASSCO (The London Architectural Salvage and Supply Company) antique dealers.
“After the squatters were removed, the building was restored and it’s now used by LASSCO as a premises from which to sell architectural salvage. Members of the public are welcome to visit the restored building for a glimpse of Vauxhall’s elegant past.” – Time Out London http://www.timeout.com/london/museums-attractions/event/2156/brunswick-house
Images from LASSCO’s launch party in 2005 show glimpses of the restored interior, especially the wood floors.
More about Brunswick House:
The third photo is awensome! A little piece of past in the future <3
I thought it quite shocking! Quite shocking, indeed! I am glad they left the house intact, at least. It does look as though there’s been a hole in time right there, though. :o
I find your post on he Brunswick house quite interesting especially the picture about the LASSCO launch party, Brunswick House, 2005 as it looks like it needed quite a bit of domestic worker support.
I know first hand as we provide Housekeepers and nannies in the London area and some of the older properties need a lot of upkeep.
Keep up the posting, it is interesting reading.
Brunswick était très beau! I love!
Have a good evening!
Огромное вам спасибо Виктория за то, что вы придумали и ведете такой блог!!!! Я тоже обожаю Джейн Остин и весь ее мир!!!! Всегда мечтала побеседовать с людьми любящими творчество Джейн Оситен!!!!!!
Translation: Thank you so much Victoria for what you come up and maintain a blog!! I also love Jane Austen and her whole world!! Always wanted to talk to people who love art Jane Osita !!!!!!
Thank you so much for your comment, Natalia! I truly appreciate your coming to my blog.
What a shame they built those ugly buildings right behind the beautiful Georgian home. They’ve done a lot of that recently in New England.
Loved the post!
how sad it looks right in the middle of those buildings!
lovely post..
Это конечно прискорбно,что Brunswisk так сильно изменили. Но все равно у вас есть такая замечательная возможность любоваться этим памятником истории! Это же все относится к миру мисс Остен Англии 18 в. Цените – это ведь вам так повезло!!!!
Hi Наталья, thanks for your comment. Would it be possible to translate it into English. I would be most grateful.
All the best,
Tony
Here is the translation!
“This is of course unfortunate that so much Brunswisk changed. But still you have this wonderful opportunity to admire this historical monument! The same applies to all the world Miss Austen’s 18th century England. Value – this is because you are so lucky!!”
I loved seeing the home restored, but was absolutely fascinated of the picture of it sitting juxaposed against the modern city buildings.
Thank you for the posting!
As well there for you! These beautiful photos. I am glad that I had the opportunity to talk with people who love peace and Jane Osin everything connected with it!
Beautiful interiors. V ery grand.
Tony,
love your photos!
Beautiful :o I like it ! :)