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On a charming, quiet street in Twickenham is a small detached house called Sandycombe Lodge, better known as Turner’s House.
It was home to one of Britain’s most famous painters, J.M.W. Turner.
The lodge is the last surviving domestic building designed and occupied by Joseph Mallord William Turner, which he started sketching in 1810, with a desire to become an architect.
He achieved his desire in 1813, when the lodge was built.
With callings elsewhere, he sold the lodge in 1826, where it was bought by Harold and Anne Livermore.
It remained in their care until Harold died in 2010, when it was bequeathed to the Turner’s House Trust.
The aim was to turn the lodge into a monument to Turner, supported by a £1.4 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, along with other funds raised by the Friends of Turner’s House (of which you can become a member).
Today, the lodge is as much a celebration of Turner the architect as of Turner the painter.
It’s an incredibly pleasant place to visit, not only because it’s interesting but also because it’s off the beaten tourist path in a quiet, peaceful part of London.
If you are looking for other things to do in the area, Ham House and Petersham Nurseries are not far away, just on the other side of the River Thames.
Highlights of the House
Although the house isn’t very big, only consisting of around seven rooms, it harbours a few gems.
Aside from the elements mentioned below, there’s a small garden to enjoy and a second-hand bookshop in a wooden outbuilding near the entrance from St Margarets Road.
The Stairwell
You will notice that the stairwell is somewhat spacious relative to the size of the house.
Turner was a close friend of Sir John Soane, who designed the house’s stairwell.
It’s pretty grand, with striking carpet, measures just over six feet across, and at the very top is a decorated laylight that scatters orange light on the walls as the sun beams through.
Collectively, the two men’s vision created a prominent feature of the house.
£20 Note
There’s a £20 note in a cabinet at the top of the stairwell, a note you may well be familiar with.
The note sports Turner’s portrait, which is on display at the Tate Britain, along with one of his most famous paintings, The Fighting Temeraire.
This £20 note was issued to Turner’s House by the Bank of England because, traditionally, the Bank sends organisations with a close connection to the person on the note a low-numbered note.
In this case, the note’s serial number is AA01 001813, which is, rather thoughtfully, the year Sandycombe Lodge was built.
Exhibition
Upstairs, you’ll find the exhibition room, which was previously the small bedroom used by Turner’s dad.
Today, it contains a small but well-curated exhibition consisting of a series of Turner’s animal sketches and paintings.
You’ll also find his old fishing rod on the wall.
Visitor Information
Sandycombe Lodge is relatively far from central London, but it’s easy to access and doesn’t attract large numbers of tourists, making it a quiet, peaceful, and pleasant place to visit in a lovely part of Twickenham.
Guided tours are available, too, if you fancy a deeper dive into Turner’s life and the lodge.
They are at 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm, depending on tour guide availability.
📍 40 Sandycoombe Road, St Margarets, Twickenham, TW1 2LR
💷 Paid entry
🕙 Wed to Fri, 12–4 pm
📞 02088 925 485
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