Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for HOLLAND HOUSE

HOLLAND HOUSE, a mansion in Kensington parish, Middlesex; between Kensington palace and the west London railway, 2 miles W of Hyde Park Corner. It stands on a quondam manor, called Abbots-Kensington, which belonged to Abingdon abbey. It is an edifice of red brick, comprising centre and wings, and forming a picturesque specimen of domestic Tudor architecture; and stands in a paddock, surrounded by ancient elms, and possessing an air of seclusion very remarkable in its proximity to great thoroughfares. The central part of it was built in 1607, by Sir Walter Cope, after designs by John Thorpe; and the wings were added by Henry Rich, who married Sir Walter's heiress, became Baron Kensington and Earl of Holland, and was beheaded in 1649, for services to Charles I. It became the residence of the parliamentarian generals, Fairfax and Lambert; but was restored, in 1655, to the Earl of Hollands heirs. It was in possession of the widowed Countess of Holland, n 1716, at her marriage with the poet Addison; and it was inhabited by Addison, from that time, till his death n 1719. It passed, in 1759, to William Edwardes, who became Baron Kensington; and it was sold by him, in 1762, to Henry Fox, afterwards Lord Holland, the father of Charles James Fox. Cromwell and Ireton held consultations in it, during the time of their power; William Penn made a great figure in it, during the period of his influence with James II.; William III. and his queen occupied it for a short time, while negotiating the purchase of what is now Kensington palace; and the Whig politicians, with poets, painters, critics, and scholars, held many meetings in it during the early part of the present century. The room in which Addison died, and bedrooms of Fox and Sheridan are preserved unaltered;.he library in which Addison composed his articles for he " Spectator, '' retains some curious books; and the house, though not first rate in its collection of pictures, contains some interesting portraits and busts. A gateway close to it, on the E, was designed by Inigo Jones; and a raised terrace, in front, was formed in 1847-8. The surrounding grounds are well laid out; and the first dahlia seen in England was grown here, in 1808, from Spanish seeds.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a mansion"   (ADL Feature Type: "residential sites")
Administrative units: Kensington Vest/AP/CP       Middlesex AncC

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