Ham House and Garden

Ham House and Garden

This rare and atmospheric 17th-century house sits on the banks of the River Thames in Richmond. It is the creation of the tenacious Duchess of Lauderdale and her husband, the Duke, who together transformed Ham into one of the grandest Stuart houses in England.

Ham House is internationally recognised for its superb collection of paintings, furniture and textiles, largely brought together 400 years ago. Some of our unique objects include a rare Chinese teapot, one of the earliest and said to have been used by the Duchess herself, and an exceptional ivory cabinet.

Outside, the open and formal restored 17th-century gardens surround the house. It includes a productive kitchen garden containing many heritage crops, the maze-like ‘Wilderness’, complete with summerhouses, and many beautiful spots perfect for a picnic.

The historic Orangery café set in the kitchen garden serves light lunches and teas. The café is set in one of the first examples of an Orangery, however it was not an ideal building for plants to grow as the windows are small and very little light could reach the orange and lemon trees.

History

Gifted to William Murray by King Charles I in 1626, Ham House was transformed by William and his wife Catherine, and later their daughter and heir Elizabeth. Surviving the English Civil Wars and Parliamentary rule, and home to Elizabeth and her descendants for almost three centuries, the house you see today is a rare survivor of one of the great Stuart houses.

A gift from King Charles I
Originally built in 1610, the interiors of Ham House as you see them today are the creation of loyal courtiers William and Catherine Murray, and their tenacious daughter Elizabeth, later Duchess of Lauderdale.

As a boy, William was educated with the young Charles I, and they remained close friends as adults. William was gifted the lease of Ham House and its estate by the King in 1626.

Between 1637-39, William and Catherine embarked on a series of lavish decorative alterations to the house. These changes were designed to reflect their taste, their favoured status as friends of the King and Queen, and their position as key members of the royal court.