Westcott Lodge

Have you ever noticed the streetlamp on the wall of Westcott Lodge? It may not look like much, but it has a fascinating story. This beautiful Grade II listed house in Lower Mall, Hammersmith was originally St Paul’s Vicarage and was built in the year 1746. Over the years, it has seen many changes. It underwent restoration after damage during World War II and was later remodelled. After that, Westcott Lodge played an important role in Hammersmith’s history. In 1962, it became the very first home of the Hammersmith Chess Club. The club met there until 1970 when it got too big and moved to St Paul’s Church Hall. The club’s first president was the eccentric Lady Herbert. She was married to A.P. Herbert. Imagine the grand chess games that took place in the halls of Westcott Lodge. Now, look at that streetlamp again. It wasn’t always there. This streetlamp was formerly used to light a street in West Berlin and was presented by Willy Brandt, then Mayor of West Berlin, in 1963. The lamp was a gift to mark Hammersmith’s twinning with the Berlin district of Neukölln. Today, it stands proudly on Westcott Lodge’s wall facing Furnival Garden. Below the lamp is a plaque that tells the story of the lamp and the close ties between Hammersmith and West Berlin. Standing here today, you can almost feel the echoes of the past – the laughter of chess players, the camaraderie of two nations, the stories of the streetlamp. Westcott Lodge may seem like just another London house, but it’s a reminder that history is woven into the very fabric of our city.