Inside Ham House 11 July 2016

I must say I admired the work of the volunteers, providing information and helpful advice all for the love of history. It was interesting chatting to a couple of the volunteers - quite tiring work at times, one lady saying she had been working as a volunteer for a good number of years but has had to ease back on the hours she provides as the body is not up to it as easily as it used to be.

A detail from one of the pots along the back of the house facing the 8 lawns.

Moving around to the main entrance, the gentleman there at the door advised we explore the out lying rooms like the Still House, where the Duchess made medicines and the Dairy, which was fully functioning in the 17th century. Inside the Dairy was a video constantly playing explaining the operation. And for the story on Wikipedia. This is the first time I recall hearing about a 'whipping boy' (worth while when you get a house out of it) and I've since noticed the phrase in The Game Of Thrones books.
In summary Wikipedia says; "The house was built in 1610 by Sir Thomas Vavasour, Knight Marshal to James I. The Thames-side location was ideal for Vavasour, allowing him to move between the courts at Richmond, London and Windsor. After Vavasour's death in 1620, the house was granted to John Ramsay, 1st Earl of Holderness until his death in 1626.
In 1626 Ham House was leased to William Murray, whipping boy and close childhood friend of Charles I."

In the basement, the servant's work area was interesting - we got to sample some old style beer and saw the adaptation of the bathing area where the Duchess would come for a hot bath and (with later improvements in plumbing) could have a shower. The amount of wood needed to fuel the fires to heat that cold basement area let alone the water, must've been substantial. The kitchen, food prep areas were interesting too - makes you appreciate modern appliances.

Back to the main entrance and visitors were invited to leave bags, coats and umbrellas in a holding area after being given an ID number. The advice was to do the ground floor first before moving up to the next levels.
Partly obscured by the window framing is the statue of the Father Thames statue in Coade stone at the front of the house.

Our timing was good to have the rain arrive after we were inside. Barb's photo looking to the entrance gate (with mobile ticket office which I think had a coffee machine)

There looks to be a man's hand holding his iPhone

Ceiling detail

This was in a room especially remodeled to impress the visiting Queen at the time. Trying to recall our guide's commentary - the celebrated guest either never made it or didn't wish to use that room Some of the rooms had false floors down to protect the originals. Plus the place was quite dark, all to protect the insides from the long term effects of the sun.

Barb is going into a room where one of the volunteer guides was resting and was happy to explain how the volunteering works - and the costs of running such historical places.

Hearing the story of how the family managed to keep their connections to Ham House, and how after Cromwell's time, the British people went back to Royalty and thus those in exile in France were able to return. From Wikipedia ...
"During the Civil War, the house and estates were sequestrated, but persistent appeals by Catherine regained them in 1646 on payment of a £500 fine. Thus Catherine skilfully defended ownership of the house throughout the Civil War and Commonwealth, and, despite Murray's close ties with the Royalist cause, the house remained in the family's possession." The house remained in the Tollemache family until 1948 when it was given to the National Trust. You may not care too much for the 'landed gentry' but it sure is good that these buildings and open space around them has been preserved for the people of today to access.

We were pleased to discover that most of the heavier showers had occurred whilst inside. It took us little moment to calculate our best way to the roads to catch a bus back to Richmond - and then the train back to Clapham Junction to wind up our day out - without Jeantine as a guide.



By the time and date stamp on this iPhone photo we must have gone for an evening walk on the Thames River Path

11 July 2016 at 8:27pm on the Clove Hitch Quay

Ham House Richmond 11 July 2016

As we walked on we weren't too sure of direction seeming to miss any definitive signage to guide us to Ham House from the Thames River Path. We took a punt in heading away from the river Thames and there amongst the trees was a large building that could be it.

Then we saw a caravan come mobile office just through the gates and very helpful ladies, saying yes this is it. After a discussion we opted to try the Orangery Cafe - one of the oldest surviving Orangeries in the UK - which was right by the Kitchen Garden. And no, they were not versed in the skills of making flat whites so we opted for Tea and Scones

The scones (scone as in own) have been split and spread - and the jacket has been removed. Did the sun sneak out for a moment?

The sign says a Living Kitchen, as the National Trust Ham House website says ... it is a "productive kitchen garden containing many heritage crops, the maze-like ‘Wilderness’, complete with summerhouses, and many beautiful spots perfect for a picnic."

Barb's photo of the Kitchen Garden

Tea and scones consumed, let's head through the gap in the wall between the Kitchen Garden and the Plats, the eight square lawns at the back of the House.

Geometric patterns evident - with Heads of Estate?

Train to Richmond, walk to Ham House 11 July 2016

Jeantine's suggestion for the day, was to take the train to Richmond, where she works and then we could take the river path to Ham House. First port of call in Richmond was the Butter Beans Cafe - very Kiwi with excellent flat whites and Kiwiana, with cans of Lemon & Paeroa soft drinks on the counter and Vegemite toasties on the menu.
We were there Monday 11 July and on 15 July, on their Facebook page they had an Ad for Customer Service position/ Barista WANTED which described their ethos and operation as follows ...
Butter Beans Café is an Antipodean owned, funky, rustic, chilled café in the heart of Richmond. We serve tasty home made Breakfast and lunch and use Union and Hasbean beans. We also make all our cakes/ slices and kiwi treats on site and are definitely proud of this. We are a busy café that strive for perfection with a load of regular customers.
By the number of customers, it looked to be a great place if you could find a table. A Google search brought up a series of photos including this 360 degree look around
A coffee and a snack out of the way, Jeantine guided up the street to find a lane the leads down to the Thames

We could see this area was a place for exercising - with a jogger going by, taking time out -with a lady on the bench and a heron on the edge of the water.

Having established which way to head, we started walking ....

The we met a distraction

This distraction was a pass under the road by the river and lead to the Terrace Gardens

1926 - 2016, say the planted characters but birds had scratched at the ground to interfere with man's intentions. Initially with those dates we thought it related to Queen Elizabeth II but seems not. The sign explains a different scenario but not having noted what - will need a Google search. A Google maps search (working back from the map of Ham House) told me this was Terrace Gardens and it is the Hollyhock Cafe in the background. We did try to have a break with a drink and snack at the Cafe but it was taking so long for the previous customer to get what they wanted, we walked out.

John Bacon's sculpture of Father Thames in Coade stone, is an identical copy of the one in the grounds of Ham House - with details of the sculptor in Wikipedia

There is no escaping the constant stream of aircraft on approach to Heathrow
Heading back along the Thames Path, we noticed passing rowers, whether they were paying tourists or rowing club members I couldn't tell but we could hear various coxswain calling out instructions.

Looking back toward Richmond.
Somewhere along the way we came across a concrete ramp down to the Thames and there was woman in a wheel chair and her adult daughter out for a walk with their dog. I'm trying to recall but I think this was an opportunity for the dog to have little paddle. Anyway we stopped for a chat and spent some time sharing stories about children overseas and the length and discomfort of flights. This woman's son lived in Australia so she knew what it was like to travel 'down under'. After leaving them we came across this meadow and took the advice of the signage but I'm not sure we gained much by diverting through the open grassland to end back out on the Thames River Path. I guess that meant I was able to contemplate this Raven that had settled on a corner fence post

The sign tells us this is Petersham Meadow. It was good to see they hadn't sent any men out to mow.

Google maps informs me that the path leads to Petersham & Ham Sea Scouts HQ

And there, through the trees, was the place we came to see.

Shop to shop, Oxford Street 10 July 2016

After the brief, fast moving excitement of skaters in the street, we made our way to another store, this time for Jeantine to pick up a headphone set that she had pre-ordered on-line. The stairs were there but, the lift seemed more appealing for a certain foot weary window shopper

The first photo identified by the iPhone as London - Westminster, Piccadilly Arcade, the next on level one at the same store, as London - Mayfair, 181 Picadilly and back to London - Westminster for the table array - 36-40 Jermyn Street - I guess it meant we were in a big store

Fast Moving Entertainment on Oxford St.

Back on Oxford Street after lunch and there was a rush of movement on the road - and it certainly wasn't the buses

There were even marshals on skates guiding the group through

I saw a flash of movement and people looking and moved onto the road to get a better angle. Pity I didn't think to switch to video mode. The skaters were moving faster than the buses were.