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Ham House and Gardens is a 17th-century historic residence along the River Thames in Ham, just a mile or so south of Richmond, London.
Completed in 1610, Ham House is recognised as a Grade I listed building and is under the care of the National Trust.
The house is renowned for its well-preserved Stuart architecture and interiors, offering a rare glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the English aristocracy in the 17th century.
Ham House and Gardens, National Trust
A Brief History
Ham House, originally built in 1610, was gifted to William Murray in 1626 by King Charles I, his childhood companion and lifelong friend.
William and his wife Catherine transformed the property between 1637 and 1639, using lavish decoration to showcase their close ties to the royal court and refined taste.
During the English Civil Wars (beginning in 1642), William, a loyal and committed Royalist, went into exile after supporting King Charles I.
Catherine remained at Ham House with their children, working to preserve the estate during the turbulent political climate.
After Charles I was executed in 1649, Catherine passed away, and their daughter Elizabeth assumed control of the property.
Elizabeth, later Countess of Dysart, proved politically astute.
While publicly maintaining a relationship with Oliver Cromwell’s regime during the Interregnum, she secretly supported Royalist plots to restore the monarchy.
Her activities included carrying secret correspondence abroad and sharing methods like invisible ink.
Her loyalty was rewarded when Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660: she received an annual pension of £800 (equivalent to around £160,000 today) and was confirmed in her noble title.
In 1672, she married John Maitland, Earl of Lauderdale, a powerful minister in Charles II’s inner circle.
Together, they became the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale and reshaped Ham House into one of England’s most magnificent Stuart houses.
They extended the house, hired master craftspeople (many of whom had worked on royal residences), and added luxurious interiors, fine furniture, and artworks.
The gardens were also developed to include a formal layout, a private garden for Elizabeth, and a grand walled kitchen garden.
After Elizabeth died in 1698, Ham House passed to her descendants from her first marriage—the Tollemache family—who preserved it for 250 years.
Despite modest changes in the 1740s and 1890s, the house retained much of its 17th-century character.
In 1948, Sir Lyonel Tollemache gifted Ham House to the National Trust, preserving it as a rare and authentic example of Stuart-era grandeur and aristocratic life.
What’s at Ham House?
Inside the house, you’ll find some highlights, including the Great Hall, the Great Staircase, the Round Gallery, the Long Gallery, the North Drawing Room, and the Queen’s Apartments, to name a few.
There’s also the Green Closet, which is the only surviving complete 17th-century closet in the country.
However, it can only be viewed online due to limited access and the low light levels required to preserve it.
Beyond the house are peaceful and impressive gardens, one of the few surviving 17th-century formal gardens in England.
They were developed by Elizabeth, Duchess of Lauderdale, to reflect the house’s grandeur.
You’ll find the geometrically designed Cherry Garden, with its central Bacchus statue, the tranquil Wilderness— a fashionable feature in 17th-century grand gardens — and a large walled kitchen garden that still produces fruit, vegetables, and herbs.
You’ll also find the orangery, now the cafe, serving tea, coffee, cake and light lunches.
Beyond the gardens and cafe, you’ll find a few staples of a National Trust site, including a shop and a second-hand book shop.
Visitor Information
Be aware that although the site is open from 1000 to 1700, not all parts of the site are open during that time.
The house doesn’t open until 1200, so if you arrive at 1000, you’ll have a long wait to access the house.
📍 Ham St, Ham, Richmond TW10 7RS
💷 Free to National Trust members, otherwise paid entry
🕙 1000 to 1700 (house opens at 1200)
📞 020 8940 1950
Ham House Photos
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