Major Makeover Planned for Hogarth's House

Gardens to be remodelled and learning centre to be added to the site

Plans to give the grounds of Hogarth’s House a major facelift are a step closer after the Heritage Lottery Fund granting funding to develop the project. It could ultimately mean that £1.7 million will be made available for improvements at the site.

A £90,000 grant will be spent in drawing up plans to remodel the gardens and for the creation of a new learning centre at the Grade 1 listed building on Great West Road, Chiswick.

The William Hogarth Trust raised over £10,000 to support the development of the project and trustees worked in a voluntary capacity to research the history, devise the ideas and brief all the special advisers who assisted. They will now be working in partnership with Hounslow Council, the owners, and Carillion Services, the managers of house and garden on this exciting project.

AcanthusLW of Chiswick, the architects who oversaw the conservation work on the House in 2009-11, were commissioned to design the learning centre, and their proposals have been endorsed by the award of the grant. The new building will make possible a learning and events programme for which there has been no room in the House itself and it will provide visitor facilities such as toilets which can cater for the 12,000 people who already visit every year.

The 17th century mulberry tree will form the centrepiece of the new garden. The aim of the project is to create an "exhibition garden" incorporating many features which tell the story of the site, from 1717 onwards. The Trust has already presented replicas of the beautiful urns which actor David Garrick gave to Hogarth to decorate his gate posts.

While the Trust will be supporting the work with further volunteer input, it looks forward to working with a range of new volunteers who will help create the garden and to present it to visitors when it opens in 2017. The new building will include a bothy to act as a base for the volunteer gardeners. And members of the Chiswick Horticultural Society are experimenting with growing old varieties of peas to help the Trust plan a kitchen garden plot.

Councillor Ed Mayne, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Leisure, said: “Hogarth’s House is a historical treasure and a firm favourite with west Londoners. We are incredibly lucky to have Hogarth’s House in the borough but feel the grounds could be improved for visitors to enjoy.

"If the project goes ahead, we will be able to make it even more attractive while providing an invaluable learning space to help bring the 18th Century to life for visitors across the capital and further afield.”

A special exhibition at the House will tell the whole history of the garden from mid July to September, admission free.

The House, which is believed to have been built between 1713 and 1719 is open to visitors (free admission) Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. Groups may book private visits for which a small charge is made outside these hours.

June 24, 2015>