Considering a 17th-century bigwig in a plum-colored coat trimmed with biscuit-colored braid, you are standing before Swakeleys House. This Grade I-listed mansion in Ickenham presents a leading example of Artisan Mannerism. This unique architectural style, a development of Jacobean architecture, showcases the fancy quasi-classical gable ends that mark its distinction.
Built in 1638 for Sir Edmund Wright, later Lord Mayor of London, Swakeleys House boasts a rich history. The manor itself dates back to the 14th century. It was once owned by Robert Swalcliffe, from whom it gets its name. Wright acquired the grounds in 1629. He then commissioned the magnificent house as a retreat, within easy reach of London.
Notice the H-shape of Swakeleys House. This design gives it four projecting wings. The house is built of English Bond brick. Its windows are framed with stone. Look for the rain-water heads that display the year of completion and the initials “E.W.” for Sir Edmund Wright. To the west, a large lawn stretches toward Swakeleys Lake.
Inside Swakeleys House, the main staircase is made of oak. Marble fireplaces add to the grandeur. The Great Chamber, a spacious room, features a ceiling arranged in fifteen panels. A wooden screen, crafted for Sir James Harrington in 1655, stands within. It is painted to resemble stone and topped with a bust of Charles I. Some believe that the Dining Room panelling comes from the original house. Sir Edmund was so impressed that he incorporated it into his new building.
Swakeleys House has seen many owners over the years. Sir James Harrington, Wright’s son-in-law, inherited the house. Later, Samuel Pepys visited in 1665. He described Swakeleys House as a “very pleasant place”. He noted busts of Charles I, Lord Essex, and Lord Fairfax.
On one visit, Sir Robert Vyner showed Pepys the dried body of a young black servant. The boy had died of tuberculosis and was displayed in an open coffin. After the house was emptied in 1923, workmen searched for the body but found nothing.
In 1893, Edward Walford described Swakeleys House as “the most interesting Jacobean house in the whole county of Middlesex.” The gardens and the long avenue of elms were particularly noteworthy. The avenue later became The Grove.
After a period of decline, Swakeleys House was restored in the 1980s. New office buildings were added to finance the work. Prince Philip officially opened the refurbished house in 1985. Scenes for the film Great Expectations were filmed here in 2012.
Today, Swakeleys House stands as a testament to its varied past. From its origins as a manor to its time as a family estate, it reflects changing tastes and fortunes. The house was sold to new owners in 2009. In 2014, permission was granted to convert the house back into a single large residence. Although public access is limited, Swakeleys House remains an architectural gem. Its walls whisper tales of lords, mayors, diarists, and even a long-lost body.