Sir John Soaneʼs Museum
Sir John Soane (1753 – 1837) was one of the most inventive architects of his time.
He built the Bank of England and Dulwich Picture Gallery, as well as his own extraordinary home by buying, demolishing and rebuilding three houses in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
First, in 1792, he bought number 12 – pleased, perhaps, with its proximity to the Royal Academy, then at Somerset House, and the coaching inns on High Holborn. This was to be his home, office, and a space for his collections.
He created a distinctive façade in white Norfolk brick – a material which would have stood out on the street. And at the back of the house, he built a two-storey architectural office.
Then in 1807, Soane bought number 13 in order to acquire its stable block. He rebuilt the stables into a new office and museum space, which he filled with plaster casts and Roman marbles.
Soane wanted this space to be educational. In 1809, he toyed with a big idea: turning all of numbers 12 and 13 into a museum for architectural models, casts and drawings –organised into rational categories. He announced this idea to his students at the Royal Academy. However, this ambitious plan was impractical and was soon abandoned.
Soane continued to acquire objects and display them, but instead of categorising objects, he decided to show his collection in creative, eclectic ways instead.
In 1812, Soane’s unusual collection had taken over the space once occupied by the stables at the back of number 13. He needed more room, so he acquired the rest of the house and moved in. He rebuilt the front part, connecting it to the back, giving him plenty of new space to display his collection.
Soane now opened up the house to his students, hoping to aid their studies with his collection. Magazines began referring to the house as ‘an Academy of Architecture’.
Soane’s collection grew further. He ended up with some spectacular items – like the sarcophagus of the Egyptian king, Seti I. He was constantly arranging and rearranging these objects throughout his life, not just to incorporate new acquisitions, but to enhance their poetic qualities through inspiring juxtapositions. The organisation of the museum can seem chaotic. It is, in fact, quite purposeful – each room a work of art in its own right.
In 1824, Soane acquired and rebuilt number 14 Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The front part was a separate house which was rented out. The stables and courtyard at the back were demolished, replaced with an extension to number 13 which became the Picture Room.
In 1833, he negotiated an Act of Parliament: to preserve his house and collection, exactly as it would be at the time of his death – and to keep it open and free for inspiration and education.
Four years later, Soane died. A board of trustees took on the responsibility of upholding Soane’s wishes – as they continue to do so today.
And – as he intended – Soane is still inspiring us, nearly 180 years later.
We’ve recently completed a £7 million project to restore previously unseen parts of the building, and to create a new shop, exhibition gallery, and flexible space for displays and events.
Today, this unique house attracts more than 100,000 visitors a year. We hope that they enter curious and leave inspired – as our Founder intended.
Read MoreTownend
Atmospheric farmhouse full of quirky objects and fascinating stories
The Brownes of Townend in the Troutbeck Valley were just an ordinary farming family: but their home and belongings bring to life more than 400 years of extraordinary stories. As you approach Townend – a traditional Lake District stone and slate farmhouse, you’ll understand why Beatrix Potter described Troutbeck Valley as her favourite.
Once inside, you are welcomed into the farmhouse kitchen with a real fire – burning most afternoons – and a quirky collection of domestic tools. Throughout the house, intricately carved furniture provides a window into the personality of George Browne. The library contains the family’s well-used collection of books, including 45 that are the only remaining copies in the world. Outside, the colourful cottage-style garden is a lovely place to while away some time among the flowers.
Wordsworth House and Garden
Step back to the 1770s at William Wordsworth’s childhood home
Wordsworth House and Garden, in the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, is the birthplace and childhood home of romantic poet William and his sister Dorothy.
It is presented as it would have been when they lived here with their parents, three brothers and servants in the 1770s.
Today, this homely Georgian townhouse is peopled by our knowledgeable 21st-century guides and, on selected dates, the maid-of-all-work is in the kitchen – and keen to chat.
There is real food on the dining table, a fire burning in the working kitchen and a recipe William and Dorothy might have eaten for you to taste. Ink and quill pens are ready in the clerk’s office, and if you play the piano, you might like to try our replica harpsichord.
The children’s bedroom is full of toys and dressing up clothes, and down in the cellar, the household’s ghosts are waiting to tell their stories.
Our exhibition rooms house a changing programme of displays. In the discovery room, there is a permanent exhibition about William’s Lakeland legacy and his key role in the founding of the National Trust, along with family games and activities.
The garden is packed with 18th-century vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers, just as it would have been when he played – and learned his love of nature – here.
Amersham Museum
Amersham Museum reopened in summer 2017 after a major refurbishment. The new museum includes a glass reception area, a complete redisplay of the collection and a new activity and temporary exhibition space. The museum’s medieval hall house is now more clearly visible for visitors to see and enjoy.
Throughout the museum there are opportunities to explore Amersham’s past through maps, photos, objects and documents.
There are hands-on activities, discovery boxes with handling objects and multimedia tablets which provide access to the museum’s wider archive.
The museum’s herb garden has been expanded and is now accessible to people in wheelchairs. There are also improved facilities including an accessible toilet, baby changing and a lift with access to the activity space.
Read MoreHailes Abbey
Founded in 1246 by the Earl of Cornwall, Hailes Abbey is set amid delightful Cotswold countryside. Once the centre of monastic life, the tranquil ruins are now the perfect place to relax and enjoy a picnic in a unique historic setting. Visit the new museum to discover the treasures of Hailes, uncovering stories of the monks who lived and worshipped at the abbey for nearly three centuries.
Don’t Miss
- An exceptionally rare fragment of a 14th-century monk’s spectacles in our newly refurbished museum
- The fascinating audio tour guiding you through the rich history of the abbey
Read More
Packwood House
Much-restored Tudor house, park and garden with notable topiary
The culmination of a lifetime of dreams: salvaged objects and exotic pieces come together in a Jacobean meets Edwardian style. Beautiful, homely, warm and welcoming. We can’t put it better than a visitor in the 1920s did: A house to dream of, a garden to dream in.
The house was originally built in the 16th century, yet its interiors were extensively restored between the First and Second World Wars by Graham Baron Ash to create a fascinating 20th-century evocation of domestic Tudor architecture.
Packwood House contains a fine collection of 16th-century textiles and furniture, and the gardens have renowned herbaceous borders and a famous collection of yews.
Aberconwy House
14th-century merchant’s house
This is the only medieval merchant’s house in Conwy to have survived the turbulent history of the walled town over nearly six centuries.
Furnished rooms and an audio-visual presentation show daily life from different periods in its history.
Plas Yn Rhiw
Delightful manor house with ornamental garden and wonderful views
The house was rescued from neglect and lovingly restored by the three Keating sisters, who bought it in 1938.
The views from the grounds and gardens across Cardigan Bay are among the most spectacular in Britain.
The house is 16th-century with Georgian additions, and the garden contains many beautiful flowering trees and shrubs, with beds framed by box hedges and grass paths. It is stunning whatever the season.
Conwy Toll Bridge
Elegant suspension bridge and toll-keeper’s house
See how trade and travel brought Conwy to life and discover how a husband and wife kept Thomas Telford’s bridge open every day of the year, whatever the weather.
TŷMawr
Traditional stone-built upland 16th-century farmhouse
Explore centuries of Welsh living in this traditional stone-built upland farmhouse.
Set in the heart of the beautiful Conwy Valley, Ty Mawr was the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan, the first translator of the Bible into Welsh.
Walks lead from the house through woodland and traditionally managed landscape.
