Visit to 575 Wandsworth Road
- Date: Wednesday 21 May 2025, 2.00pm
575 Wandsworth Road is an early 19th century terraced house acquired by the National Trust in 2010 because of the striking interiors created by Khadambi Asalache, a Kenyan-born poet, novelist, philosopher and British civil servant. He bought the house in 1981 while working at the Treasury and over a period of years he turned his home into a work of art.
Prompted by the need to disguise persistent damp in the basement, he initially fixed pine floorboards to the dining room wall. He went on to embellish almost every wall, ceiling and door in the house with exquisite fretwork patterns and motifs, which he hand-carved from reclaimed pine doors and floorboards found in skips. The house stands as he left it with his painted decoration on walls, doors and floors. Rooms are furnished with his handmade fretwork furniture and carefully arranged collections of beautiful objects, including pressed-glass inkwells, pink and copper lustreware, postcards and his typewriter.
Because the property is small and the interior fragile, the house can only take six people at a time. Hence we have arranged two visits: 1pm and 3pm. Chose on booking form. For how to get to the property, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/london/575-wandsworth-road.
Visit to Syon House
- Date: Wednesday 25 June 2025, 2.00pm
Syon House is the London home of the Duke of Northumberland, a Grade I listed building set in the impressive grounds of Syon Park designed by Capability Brown. The house was built on the site of a medieval abbey and came into the ownership of Henry Percy, the ninth Earl, in 1594. It has remained in the Percy family ever since and they continue to live there when in London. Syon has seen a great deal of history and profound changes over the centuries. The present interiors were created by Robert Adam in 1762.
Our 75-minute guided visit will cover the main reception rooms on the ground floor. Before or after the tour, there is a restaurant (booking recommended; 020 3848 4323; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), café and garden centre as well as the Great Conservatory, the 200-acre park, gardens and meadows down to the Thames. The site is fully accessible.
There is a large free visitor car park (postcode TW7 6AZ). We hope some of those attending will drive and be able to offer lifts to others, which will be coordinated by our visits organiser. Syon can also be reached by rail, Underground and bus. See syonpark.co.uk/visitor-information/#how-to-find-us or citymapper.com/go/r5zjcn?lang=en.