Spencer House is London’s most magnificent eighteenth-century aristocratic palace
Built between 1756-1766 for John, first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997) it is London’s finest surviving eighteenth-century town house.
James ‘Athenian’ Stuart, then newly returned from Greece, superseded Vardy as Lord Spencer’s architect in 1758. As a result, the House became the first example in London of the application of accurate Greek detail to interior decoration, making it one of the pioneer examples of neo-classical architecture.
Although Spencer House was conceived as a showcase of classical design, it was also designed for pleasure and a festive theme runs through the decoration of all the many State Rooms which were used for receptions and family gatherings. The first Earl Spencer and his wife were prominent figures in London society and during their lifetime Spencer House was often the setting for lavish entertainments. Their descendants, notably the fourth and sixth Earls, both of whom served as Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household, continued this tradition.
Refinements to the House
Following the death of the first Earl Spencer in 1783 the House was partly remodelled by the architect, Henry Holland, who was soon to be engaged by the Prince Regent on the construction of Carlton House. Holland added the Greek Ionic columns in the Dining Room, encased in Siena scagliola, and the large mahogany doors in the Staircase Hall, the Ante Room and the Library.
In the 1840s the ground floor was decorated and the first floor was restored by the famous Victorian architect, Philip Hardwick.
Thirty years later the Parisian designer, Barbier, redecorated the ground floor rooms.
The 20th Century
The Spencer family continued to live at the House until 1895 when the building was let to a series of tenants, including the Duke of Marlborough and his wife, the former Miss Consuelo Vanderbilt.
Following the death of the fifth Earl Spencer in 1910 the family returned to the House and in 1926 the building was substantially restored. A year later, however, the family moved away and the House was let to the Ladies Army and Navy Club, which remained in occupation until 1943.
The contents of the House were removed to Althorp and in 1942, at the height of the Blitz, valuable original features such as chimneypieces, doors and chair rails were also removed. During the war the House was occupied by the nation’s nursing services, and in 1948 a lease was signed with the auctioneers Christie’s, whose bomb- damaged premises in nearby King Street were being rebuilt.
Various companies occupied the house until 1985 when the lease was assigned to J. Rothschild Holdings plc and thence to RIT Capital Partners plc.
Spencer House today
Spencer House has regained the full splendour of its late eighteenth-century appearance after a ten year programme of restoration undertaken by RIT Capital Partners plc under the Chairmanship of Lord Rothschild.
The final appearance of the rooms, complete with carved architectural detail, chimneypieces and copies of original furniture, is also a testament to the support of the Spencer family who provided access to Althorp to enable replication work of outstanding quality to be achieved.
The House, partly used as offices, provides a unique setting where events can be held in the historic setting of the eight State Rooms.
The accurate restoration is complimented by a magnificent collection of paintings and furniture, specially assembled for the House, including five major Benjamin West paintings graciously lent by Her Majesty The Queen.
