Apsley House stands proudly on London’s Hyde Park Corner. It was once known as Number One, London. Come with me and discover the home of one of England’s heroes, the Duke of Wellington.
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Inside Apsley House
Don’t be fooled by the restrained honey coloured exterior inside Apsley House is all opulent interiors awash with gold. These are some of the few examples of a Regency aristocratic London town house interior that survive. Europe’s leaders rushed to show their gratitude to the Duke of Wellington for defeating Napoleon and showered him with gifts. The walls are heavy with the high quality art that was pressed upon the Duke.
Waterloo Gallery
How to celebrate an era defining military victory? Wellington had the ninety foot, two storey Waterloo Gallery built. It was here that he held the annual Waterloo banquet to mark the victory. No banquet for visitors today but you can gaze at the Duke’s impressive art collection and Hyde Park views.
Wellington Collection at Apsley House
Wellington was not only an accomplished military leader, he also had a fine eye for art. Keep an eye open for works by Valázquez, Brueghel, Goya, Caravaggio, Titian and Van Dyck as you explore the house.
At the heart of the Wellington Collection are 82 works from the Spanish Royal Collection. Joseph Napoleon helped himself to the cream of the Spanish Royal art collection during his stint as King of Spain. When Joesph was defeated in June 1813, he fled with the paintings. Wellington’s soldiers apprehended a coach filled with over 200 rolled up canvases. The newly restored King Ferdinand VII of Spain was told but insisted that Wellington keep them as a thank you.
Wellington Museum
Technically the whole of Apsley House is the Wellington Museum. But what was once the dining room is now dedicated to the Wellington Museum. Here you can see the many dinner services that grateful European leaders gave the Duke. To me a dinner service means plates and bowls. Turns out that if you are lavishing a war hero with crockery you add the fanciest centre pieces that Sèvres and Meissen could produce.
Napoleon and Apsley House
Napoleon never came to Apsley House, he was defeated long before the Duke bought the house. However he is depected often throughout the house. Most eye poppingly of hall is a huge marble statue of him by Canova in the stairwell. Napoleon had the statue made but hated it. In 1816 the British Government bought the statue from the restored French King and presented it to Wellington. Quite a keepsake!
Who lived at Apsley House?
Robert Adam built Apsley House for Lord Apsley (hence the name). Fast forward a few decades to 1807 when Richard, Marquess of Wellesley purchased the house. Ten years later the Marquess’s marriage was in tatters and he was on the brink of bankruptcy. Step forward the Marquess’s younger brother. The victor of the Battle of Waterloo and newly enobled as the Duke of Wellington.
A grateful nation had granted £700,000 to build a Waterloo Palace fit for our hero. Instead, he opted to buy brothers pad and add a few embellishments of his own. Benjamin Wyatt drew up plans for banqueting halls and picture galleries fit for a conquering hero.
The Dukes of Wellington have lived in the house ever since. In 1941 the 5th Duke died and a couple of years later the 6th Duke died of wounds sustained during battle in the Second World War. Two lots of death duties in quick succession prompted the 7th Duke to offer the house to the nation. The Wellington Museum Act then created a museum with the top floors remaining as a family house. The Duke of Wellington still lives at Apsley House.
Who was the Duke of Wellington?
Simply the Duke of Wellington was the man who defeated Napoleon. He was born, Arthur Wellesley in 1769 the third son of the 1st Lord Mornington. His father died when he was 12 leaving huge debts. Eton was off the cards and so the young Arthur was packed off to into the Army. In India at the the Battle of Assaye he began to be noticed.
Once home from India and a hero Arthur renewed his pursuit of Catherine (Kitty) Pakenham the daughter of Lord Longford. The pair had fallen in love before he left for India but the Pakenham family had rejected his marriage proposal. Now he was rich and famous Lord Longford said yes to the match. Sadly Kitty was no longer the radiant young girl Arthur had fallen in love with. The marriage was not a happy one, not helped by the long years that the couple spent apart whilst he was away fighting.
Back in Europe Napoleon and the Peninsular Wars kept Arthur occupied. He defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. Came home and became Prime Minister.
Why No 1 London?
Apsley House has popularly known as No 1 London ever since it was built. Why? Legend has it that it was the first building that you came to after the Kensington Turnpike. Once you’d passed that you were in London. Hence No 1 London. Nowadays it seems to be at the very heart of London not the edge!
Visiting Apsley House need to know
- 149 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NT
- Open: April – December, Wednesday – Sunday 11am – 5pm
- Admission: Adult £14 save 15% by booking online
- Members of English Heritage go free.
- Art Fund members also go free
London has a wealth of Historic Houses to visit, check out my post for more inspiration.
I always wanted to see inside this place – this will be a Must See next time we’re in London.
I seem to recall that the gallery was also an early example of a French revival style?
Yes I think that you are right