Osterley House

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Photo by flickr user wyzik

When Osterley was built in around 1570 it was in the countryside, and was built to be a wealthy London family's rural retreat – that of banker Sir Thomas Gresham. But the suburbs have encroached and this rural idyll is now well and truly within the boundaries of west London, with the M4 cutting through the house's grounds.

One of the most famous stories of the house involves a visit from Queen Elizabeth, who actually visited twice, on one occasion she suggested in passing that a hedge would look well, positioned in a certain way – and overnight a hedge came to be positioned that way!

The current red brick house is the work of Robert Adam, who in 1761 was the emerging architect the well to do wanted their houses to be designed by. The well to do gent in question was Sir Francis Child of Child's Bank. Adam incorporated elements of the original design into the 18th Century version, which is why the house has such a unique look.

 Jersey Road, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 4RB

Written by  Emilie Stokes.

Comments, reviews and questions by other travellers

There are no posts. Why not be the first to have your say?