Debenham House
| Debenham House | |
|---|---|
 Debenham House, 2015 | |
| Location | Holland Park,West London, England |
| Coordinates | 51°30′8.94″N0°12′31.82″W/ 51.5024833°N 0.2088389°W |
| Built | 1905–07 |
| Architect | Halsey Ricardo |
| Architectural style(s) | Arts and Crafts |
| Governing body | Privately owned |
Listed Building– Grade I | |
| Official name | Debenham House |
| Designated | 15 April 1969[1] |
| Reference no. | 1080783 |
  Location of Debenham House in Greater London | |
Debenham House(orPeacock House) at8Addison Roadis a large detached house in theHolland Parkdistrict ofKensington and Chelsea,W14.Built in theArts and Crafts styleby the architectHalsey Ricardo,it is aGrade Ilisted building.[1]
History
[edit]The house was designed in 1905 for department store ownerErnest Ridley Debenham.[2]Debenham had previously lived in another house designed by Ricardo, at 57 Melbury Road in Holland Park.[2]The house only became known as Debenham House after it was sold on Sir Ernest's death. From 1955 to 1965 the house was used by the London College of Dance and Drama. In the 1990s it housed the headquarters of Richmond Fellowship and was the venue for Royal Garden Parties.
Architecture
[edit]Debenham House combines anItalianateexterior with anArts and Craftsinterior. Both are richly decorated. The house is clad inRoyal DoultonCarraraware with green and blueBurmantoftsbricks. Ricardo favouredpolychromyfor its design effects, but it also served a practical purpose, as the glazing resisted the aging effects of the polluted London air. The criticJonathan Meadesdescribed the house as "structurally stodgy – an alderman dressed as a hippy."[3]
The interior contains tiles designed byWilliam De Morgan,a mosaic dome painted byGaetano Meo,ceilings painted byErnest Gimsonandstained glassbyEdward Schroeder Prior.[4]The decoration throughout is overwhelming. A domed hall has a gallery linking the upstairs rooms. Mosaics show members of the Debenham family, mixed with gods and goddesses fromclassical mythology.There aremarbleand tile fireplaces andmahoganybookcases with decorated withArt Nouveauinserts in wood andmother of pearl.The light switches were made by theBirmingham Guild of Handicraft.[3]
Filming location
[edit]The house has been used as a film location, including;The Wings of the Dove (1997 film),[citation needed]Secret Ceremony,[5]What the Butler Saw,Spooks,[4]two episodes ofAgatha Christie's Poirot,Lord Edgware DiesandCards on the Table,[6][7]Trottie True[citation needed]and the BBC's Mrs. Bradley Murder Mysteries.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^abHistoric England."Debenham House (1080783)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved9 July2015.
- ^ab"Survey of London: volume 37: Northern Kensington".British History Online.Retrieved28 June2012.
- ^abPhillippa Bennett (1 September 2010).William Morris in the Twenty-First Century.Peter Lang. pp. 50–.ISBN978-3-0343-0106-0.Retrieved25 January2013.
- ^Derek Pykett (20 July 2008).British Horror Film Locations.McFarland. pp. 105–.ISBN978-0-7864-3329-2.Retrieved24 January2013.
- ^"Poirot Locations – Lord Edgware Dies".tvlocations.net.Retrieved1 February2015.
- ^Eirik."Investigating Agatha Christie's Poirot: Episode-by-episode: Lord Edgware Dies".investigatingpoirot.blogspot.com.es.Retrieved1 February2015.
Bibliography
[edit]- Stourton, James (2012).Great Houses of London.London: Frances Lincoln.ISBN978-0-7112-3366-9.
External links
[edit]
Media related toDebenham Houseat Wikimedia Commons