Brunswick House

« Jane Austen Pilgrimage Part II: Winchester Cathedral and College Street

Brunswick House

November 8, 2011 by Vic

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.

Brunswick House. Image @Tony Grant

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.

Brunswick House. Image @British History Online

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.

Brunswick House today. Image @Stephen Richards

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…

M15 building, also known as Babylon on Thames. Image @Tony Grant

…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.

Close up includes details of Georgian dress in second story windows. Image @Tony Grant

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

LASSCO launch party, Brunswick House, 2005

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:

About these ads

Posted in 18th Century England, Architecture, Georgian London, Jane Austen's World, Regency World | Tagged Babylon on Thames, Brunswick House, LASSCO, M15, Vauxhall Gardens | 17 Comments

17 Responses

on November 8, 2011 at 10:13 Rryl

The third photo is awensome! A little piece of past in the future <3
- on November 8, 2011 at 11:39 Martha
  
  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
on November 8, 2011 at 14:35 Kensington Housekeeper

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.
on November 8, 2011 at 16:12 Dentelline

Brunswick était très beau! I love!
Have a good evening!
on November 8, 2011 at 21:52 Наталья

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!!!!!!
- on November 9, 2011 at 10:14 Vic
  
  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.
on November 9, 2011 at 00:28 QNPoohBear

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.
on November 9, 2011 at 02:11 Karen Field

Loved the post!
on November 9, 2011 at 02:38 dexter4eva

how sad it looks right in the middle of those buildings!
lovely post..
on November 9, 2011 at 02:43 Наталья

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!!!!
- on November 9, 2011 at 08:18 Tony Grant
  
  Hi Наталья, thanks for your comment. Would it be possible to translate it into English. I would be most grateful.
  
  All the best,
  Tony
- on November 9, 2011 at 10:13 Vic
  
  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!!”
on November 9, 2011 at 14:58 Sally Michele Shaw

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!
on November 10, 2011 at 03:17 Наталья

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!
on November 12, 2011 at 06:05 jean baptiste

Beautiful interiors. V ery grand.
on November 13, 2011 at 13:46 Raquel Sallaberry Brião

Tony,

love your photos!
on November 14, 2011 at 17:46 La Palatine

Beautiful :o I like it ! :)