Standing before Syon House, you can almost hear the whispers of history. Built in 1547, this grand mansion has witnessed centuries of change. It was once the home of a wealthy nunnery. Syon House was then taken by the Crown before becoming the property of the first Duke of Somerset. Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard, was imprisoned here in 1541. She was later executed in the Tower of London, accused of adultery. This was a time of considerable upheaval, when anyone who dared to challenge the King might lose their head. The House passed through several hands before the Percy family made it their home in 1594 and it has remained with them ever since. Just beyond the manicured formal French gardens, in the Red Drawing Room, hangs a portrait of Charles I’s wife, Henrietta Maria, a reminder of another time of instability. It was painted by the celebrated Anthony van Dyck. You can almost hear the clatter of hooves and the chatter of those long ago guests who came through this impressive gate. In the quiet, the house feels like a time capsule. The Percy family remain proud to call Syon House their family home to this day.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to