Richmond House

History

Stewart Dukes of Richmond

Richmond House was first built as his London townhouse by Charles Stewart, 3rd Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox (1639-1672) of Cobham Hall in Kent, an English nobleman of Franco-Scottish ancestry and a 4th cousin of King Charles II of England. It was built shortly after the Restoration of the Monarchy of 1660 when King Charles II returned to Great Britain from his exile in France during the Civil War and Commonwealth. It was built on the former bowling green of the royal Palace of Whitehall, at the southern end of the Privy Gardens. Its west side looked onto Whitehall, but the main front looked northward towards the Banqueting House and Charing Cross. The 3rd Duke of Richmond died without issue in 1672 but his widow remained in occupation until her death in 1702.

Reversion to crown

After 1702 the house reverted to the crown and was occupied firstly by the Secretary of State and then by the Comptrollers of Army Accounts.

Lennox Dukes of Richmond

In 1710, during the reign of Queen Anne, the house was granted to Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, 1st Duke of Lennox (1672-1723), of Goodwood House in Sussex, the youngest of the seven illegitimate sons of King Charles II (by his mistress Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth). Charles Lennox had in many ways been placed by the king into the persona of the deceased 3rd Duke of Richmond, whose family was much beloved by the Stuart monarchs. In 1733-4 His son Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, 2nd Duke of Lennox (1701-1750) built a new house adjacent to the first house, to the design of Lord Burlington (1694-1753), the pioneer of Palladian architecture in England. After 1738 he demolished the first house to improve his view. In 1747 he commissioned Canaletto to paint a pair of views from Richmond House, today in the collection of his descendant the 11th Duke of Richmond at Goodwood House. The 2nd Duke also enlarged his country seat at Goodwood House, to the designs of Matthew Brettingham. In 1758 his son Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, 3rd Duke of Lennox (1735-1806) converted part of the house to a school for the study of painting and sculpture and in 1782 remodelled a part of it, to the designs of James Wyatt.

"House of the Earls of Loudoun and Mar"

the "House of the Earls of Loudoun and Mar". Viewed from the roof of the Banqueting Hall, looking southward down Whitehall. In the background, rising above, is Westminster Hall]] To the immediate west of Richmond House and adjoining Whitehall stood the "House of the Earls of Loudoun and Mar" (joint Secretaries of State of the Kingdom of Scotland 1705-1708/9), built 1687-93 by John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort (1650-1715), Secretary of State of the Kingdom of Scotland 1684–9, for use by holders of that office (abolished 1707) and demolished after 1820 to make way for Richmond Terrace built in 1822 and surviving today. It was divided into two separate dwellings, the leases of which were held personally after 1707 by the descendants of Loudon and Mar. Richmond House built by the 2nd Duke and burned down in 1791, stood to its east, closer to the river. The Loudoun and Mar house was acquired between 1766 and 1790 by the 3rd Duke of Richmond, after which it also appears to have become known as "Richmond House".

Destroyed by fire

Richmond House was destroyed by a fire on 21 December 1791, and was not rebuilt by the 3rd Duke or his descendants. The library and art collection were rescued from the fire and were removed to Goodwood House, where the surviving two wings were built (to the designs of James Wyatt) to re-house them.

The fire started in the bedroom of Henrietta Anne le Clerc, called "a protégée of the Duchess" and "a long acknowledged daughter of His Grace", believed to have been the Duke's illegitimate daughter, to whom he referred in his will as "Miss Henrietta Anne le Clerc, who resides with me and though Christened by the name of Anne only is called Henrietta and whom I have [educated?] from her childhood" and to whom he bequeathed an annual income of £2,000 (also leaving £10,000 to each of his three illegitimate daughters by his housekeeper Mrs Bennet).{{cite book |title=The Literary Panorama and National Register |volume=2

Replaced by Richmond Terrace

The lease of the site passed to other ownership and in 1822 was built the surviving structure of eight large terraced houses known as "Richmond Terrace", occupying approximately the same footprint and orientation. These became fashionable private residences, until the 1920s when the leases expired and they returned to use as government offices until the redevelopment of 1982.

1980s redevelopment

In 1987 Richmond Terrace Mews, behind the building, was built over and joined to the rear of Richmond Terrace to form a modern government office block to house the headquarters of the Department for Health and Social Security, the main entrance to which was number 79 Whitehall (formerly the entrance to the mews). The ministerial team and key National Health Service officials were based there until November 2017.

The new building was designed by Sir William Whitfield, and was completed in 1987.

Site for temporary Parliament

In January 2018, the House of Commons voted to move to Richmond House in 2025, for an estimated six years, to allow a full renovation of the Palace of Westminster, which accommodates the Houses of Commons and Lords. Plans revealed in October 2018 indicated that most of the 1980s structure would be demolished in preparation for this move, with only the facade retained in front of a new building designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, containing a permanent chamber and offices. This plan was eventually shelved but was brought forward again for possible consideration in 2024, with a less radical change to the building. It is also unclear when or if Parliament will move, complicating the restoration work.

Notes

References

References

1. (2017-03-24). "Richmond Terrace and House - UK Parliament". Parliament.uk.
2. Thornbury, Walter. (1878). "Old and New London". Cassell, Petter & Galpin.
3. {{NHLE
4. "Richmond Terrace and House". UK Parliament.
5. ""The house of the Earls of Loudoun and Mar" by John Caulfield junr., entitled "Richmond House, Whitehall," in the possession of the Westminster Public Library".
6. "Our History". The Goodwood Estate.
7. "Release by Charles Dorrien of Ash Dean in West-bourne, esq.".
8. "Grant of an annuity from Lord John George Lennox to James Brownson of Norwich, esq., secured on properties [named] in Sussex".
9. "Will of John Dorrien, Major General in His Majesty's Army of Lavant, Sussex".
10. (May 1825). "Obituary".
11. (January 1807). "Obituary, with Anecdotes, of remarkable Persons".
12. (1824). "The Annual Register". Baldwin, Craddock and Joy.
13. "Richmond Terrace and House". UK Parliament.
14. Postal address 79 [[Whitehall]], London, SW1A 2NS
15. "Office Locations: Department of Health". Department of Health.
16. (10 June 2009). "Great walks around London: Westminster and Whitehall". The Telegraph.
17. "Sir William Whitfield". OUP.
18. "MPs set to leave Houses of Parliament for £3.5bn restoration". The Guardian.
19. (15 October 2018). "Listed Whitehall building falls victim to parliament move". [[The Times]].
20. Spocchia, Gino. (21 March 2024). "Temporary House of Commons plans revived by Parliament renewal body". Architects Journal.