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