Original Block Of Richmond Royal Hospital

This List entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 15/07/2017

TQ 1875, 11/1

KEW FOOT ROAD (east side), Original block of Richmond Royal Hospital

II

Formerly a house, later incorporated into a hospital. Mid C18, formerly comprising 5-bay centre and 2-bay wings set back, the south wing demolished c1882, when an extra storey was added to the north wing and a projecting 2-storey wing obscured it.

The poet James Thomson lived here from 1736 until his death in 1748 and wrote his most famous works here, the masque "Alfred", which includes the anthem "Rule Britannia" (1740), "The Castle of Indolence" (1748) and "The Seasons" (1738). After Thomson's death the house was bought by a friend, George Ross, who enlarged it, and in 1786 it was bought by Mrs Boscawen, widow of the famous admiral. On her death in 1805 it was bought by the 6th Earl of Shaftesbury, who changed the name to Shaftesbury House.

Built of stock brick with roof partially concealed by parapet, the other part tiled. Two sections. The right hand part of three storeys, five bays. Stone coping ramped up in centre to form a pediment. Cambered sashes, 9-pane to second floor, 12-pane to first floor. Four bays of ground floor obscured by late C19 or early C20 projection but original Ionic portico incorporated in end. Cornice has mutule frieze and 4-leaved paterae. To left side is a further 2-bay C18 wing with early C20 mansard roof. Second-floor windows are early C20 in original architraves but the other floors are obscured by the later extension. Rear elevation has mainly 12-pane sashes to the main part and C20 windows to the north wing. Mansard tiled roof and C19 chimneystacks. C19 attached hospital buildings not of special interest.

INTERIOR has entrance hall with mid C18 staircase with scrolled tread ends and two turned balusters to each step, doorcase with bolection moulding, 6-panelled door and panelling with dado rail. Other features this floor include large room to wing with ovolo-moulded cornice and dado rail and fireplaces with eared architraves. First floor has mid-C18 panelled room and fireplace with brackets, Vitruvian scroll and C19 tiled surround. Moulded cornice to rear room. Second floor retains old floorboards.

Listing NGR: TQ1815175570

Former List Entry:

1. 5028 KEW FOOT ROAD (east side)

Original block of Richmond Royal Hospital TQ 1875 11/1

II

2. The nucleus is a late C18 brown brick house, 2 storeys, 5 windows. Now embedded in buildings of many later dates. Pro-style Roman Ionic porch in front of modern single storey projection. This house was "Rosedale House" once the home of James Thomson author of "The Castle of Indolence", "The Seasons" etc. (This original part of the present hospital complex only is listed; the central 5 bays bearing the name of the Hospital.)

Listing NGR: TQ1815175570