The Origins and History of Ham House
Ham House is a 17th-century manor situated on the banks of the River Thames in Ham, south of Richmond. The original structure was completed in 1610 by Thomas Vavasour, an Elizabethan courtier and Knight Marshal to James I. The house was later acquired by William Murray, a supporter and close friend of Charles I. During the English Civil War, the estate faced sequestration, but Murray's wife, Catherine, managed to regain the property by paying a fine.
Following the death of William Murray in 1655, his daughter, Elizabeth Murray, Countess of Dysart, took control of the estate. She successfully navigated the political pressures of the Protectorate and the prevailing anti-royalist sentiment to retain the family's holdings. This period of stability allowed the house to remain in the possession of the Murray family for generations.
The building is a Grade I listed structure and holds museum accreditation from Arts Council England, which it received in 2015. It remains a rare survival of 17th-century luxury and taste, preserved within its formal gardens and landscaped grounds.
The Building and its Architecture
Located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Ham House is a Grade I listed building. The structure retains many original Jacobean and Caroline features and furnishings, providing a rare survival of 17th-century luxury and taste. The interior is characterized by high architectural and decorative interest, preserved through centuries of continuous occupation. The house was originally completed in 1610 by Thomas Vavasour, an Elizabethan courtier and Knight Marshal to James I.
The estate extends beyond the house to include formal gardens and a park, which are listed at Grade II*. These grounds are situated on the bank of the River Thames. The landscape includes the Cherry Garden, the maze-like Wilderness, and a walled kitchen garden. The kitchen garden produces flowers for the house and vegetables for the cafe kitchen. The site's layout reflects the formal design principles of the 17th century.
The Art and Collections at Ham House
The interior of the house contains a collection of fine furniture, textiles, and paintings. These objects are housed within lavishly decorated rooms that retain much of their original character. The collection includes a unique assembly of cabinets and artwork, reflecting the personal tastes of the families who occupied the estate. The museum holds 58 approved works by 30 different artists.
Portraiture is a significant component of the holdings. Peter Lely is represented by 14 works in the catalog, including several depictions of the family and their contemporaries. Landscape painting is also well-represented, with Abraham Begeyn contributing 13 works to the collection. These paintings often depict natural scenes, including figures and animals, which complement the formal gardens outside.
- Venus and Cupid with an Organist
- Lady Lucy Percy, Countess of Carlisle
- Landscape with Two Hunting Dogs
- The Suicide of Lucretia
Masterpieces of the Collection
The collection contains significant works from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, reflecting the changing tastes of the families who resided at Ham. Jacopo Bassano’s 1581 depiction of Daniel in the Lions' Den provides an early anchor to the holdings. Later, the portraiture of the era is represented by Anthony van Dyck’s rendering of Lady Lucy Percy, Countess of Carlisle. These works exist alongside Titian’s Venus and Cupid with an Organist, a piece that contributes to the house's long-standing association with high-status portraiture and mythological subjects.
The mid-seventeenth century is represented by the hand of Peter Lely, who painted An Unknown Gentleman, called Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Earl of Dysart, about 1660. This period of portraiture also includes the likeness of Elizabeth Murray, Lady Tollemache, later Countess of Dysart and Duchess of Lauderdale, painted by Lely in 1651. The collection continues through the eighteenth century with Joshua Reynolds’ 1775 portrait of Charlotte Walpole, Countess of Dysart (1738-1789).
