Strawberry Hill re-opens
It stands out like Lady Gaga in a school choir.
, Horace Walpole's villa in Twickenham, inspired a European-wide gothic revival.
The Great Cloister in 2009, halfway through restoration
On 2 October, having been closed for extensive renovation, it opens once again to the public.
This morning I was given an early preview of the "fantasy castle" by curator and chair of the Strawberry Hill Trust, Michael Snodin.
Afterwards I talked to former cabinet minister William Waldegrave, whose family took ownership of the house after Walpole died in 1797. They too left their mark.
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Comment number 1.
At 23rd Sep 2010, L A Odicean wrote:Most major Victorian buildings would look better as picturesque ruins. Whose idea was it to restore Strawberry Hill? It should have been allowed to decay naturally. In 10 - 15 years time it would have looked lovely. It's a disgrace.
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Comment number 2.
At 23rd Sep 2010, L A Odicean wrote:Even if it's not Victorian....
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Comment number 3.
At 24th Sep 2010, Christine wrote:In 10-15 years Strawberry Hill might have fallen down. It would have been a disgrace for this magnificent Gothic Revival house to have been lost. This restoration looks amazing, and I can't wait to visit.
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Comment number 4.
At 24th Sep 2010, L A Odicean wrote:OK...ok, I'll go and have a look.
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