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Ham House, Richmond

 

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The mid seventeenth century was a time of turmoil in England. Years of civil war between parliamentarians and royalists ended with the execution of Charles I in January 1649. Then after an austere decade with a puritan dominated Parliament in control, Charles II was restored to the throne. The age which followed took its lead from Charles, in an openness to new ideas tolerance, good times, excess, and for better or worse, a certain moral flexibility. You might say that the seventeenth century was a time of momentous change, or a time that illustrates how changes tend to turn full circle back to the same place. A king was deposed and it seemed a new era had begun. But after ten years a new king was back.

Ham House is a great place to explore this period in history. It was built in 1610 for Thomas Vavasour, a senior advisor of James I. In 1626 the house became the property of William Murray, who as a boy had the unpleasant job of taking punishment for James I's eldest son, Prince Charles. Charles was grateful for William's efforts on his behalf, and the two became good friends. Prince Charles became king as Charles I in 1626. The years 1629 to 1637 were the happiest of Charles reign, when his opponents in Parliament were not strong enough to challenge him. This was the time Murray was remodelling the interior of Ham House, creating the Great Staircase and luxurious rooms on the first floor.

 

But after 1637 public opinion was turning increasingly against Charles. Trouble in Scotland meant that Charles needed money to raise an army, and the only way to raise the necessary money was to recall Parliament. Once he did that his opponents had their chance to move against him. By 1642 the Civil War had begun with the forces of Parliament set against those of the king. Naturally William Murray gave up his life of comfort at Ham House and joined the royalist cause, which of course was ultimately doomed. Then through the long years of Parliament's rule William Murray and Ham House had to keep a low profile. Extravagance was not acceptable. The Great Staircase saw no women floating up and down in beautiful gowns, and the luxurious rooms sat quiet. Life returned to Ham House when Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660. In recognition of his loyalty to Charles I, William Murray became Earl of Dysart. After Murray died in 1665, his title, and Ham House, passed to his eldest daughter Elizabeth. She and her husband, John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale, reflected the new age by living an extravagant life at Ham House. They hired fashionable architects William Bruce and William Sandwell, and much of the luxurious decoration they created still survives at Ham House today. Inspite of later repair and additions by subsequent owners, it is the seventeenth century which Ham House reflects most powerfully. The same is true of the garden which still retains its formal Stuart period character, particularly in the Cherry Garden. Ham House passed to the National Trust in 1948. There is a shop and a cafe.

Ham House is often used as a film location, playing the part of Kensington Palace in The Young Victoria (2009), and also featuring in Remains Of The Day.

 

Opening Times: Opening hours for National Trust properties can be complex. Please use contact details below.

Directions: Ham House is between Richmond and Kingston, off the A307.

Address: Ham House, Ham Street, Ham, Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey TW10 7RS. Click here for an interactive map centred on Ham House.

Access: Ramps and stairs allow level access to all floors of the house, but there are narrow doorways and small rooms. Grounds are fully accessible. Two motorised buggies are available. Telephone ahead to book these.

Contact:

telephone:020 8940 1950

e-mail: hamhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk

web site: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-hamhouse.htm

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