Lauderdale House

Lauderdale House is an historic house, now run as an arts and education centre, based in Waterlow Park, Highgate in north London, England. It hosts an extensive programme of performances, workshops, outreach projects and exhibitions. [1]

Lauderdale House

History

Lauderdale House was one of the finest country houses in Highgate and was originally built for Richard Martin (Lord Mayor of London) in 1582 with a timber frame. Mary, Countess of Home extended it.[2] In 1645 it came to Earl of Lauderdale (hence its name) as his wife Anne Home's inheritance. In 1666 it was visited by Charles II and Samuel Pepys, while Nell Gwyn is said to have lived there briefly in 1670. It was later the home of the Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Pritchard. [3]

It was converted to a neoclassical style in 1760, and John Wesley preached here in 1782. For some time it was the home of James Yates, antiquary and Unitarian, who retired there to spend years of "learned leisure" amidst "a noble library and a fine collection of works of art". He died there in 1871.[4] The house became a convalescent home for St. Bartholomew's hospital in 1872. [3]

In 1882 the then owner, Sir Sydney Waterlow, the famous printer, donated it 'for the enjoyment of Londoners'. It is a Grade II* listed building. [5]

References
  1. "Welcome to Lauderdale House". Lauderdale House. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  2. Osmund Airy, The Lauderdale papers, vol. 2 (London, 1885), p. 203
  3. Baker, T F T and Erlington C R. "A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6, Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey With Highgate". British History Online. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  4. Gordon, Alexander. "Yates James (1789-1871)". Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  5. "Lauderdale House". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
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