Spencer House

Our next adventure in things new to us was the Spencer House, another of London's few remaining "town houses," that is, great houses in London maintained by the Great and the Good for the "season" in London. (See Downtown Arby's or Bridgerton for deeper insight). There are only a handful left, including Apsley and Spencer House. The Spencer clan goes way back and includes a number of notable members, some of whom are or were extremely well known. The House was begun in the 1750s, enjoyed its height throughout the 1800s, but began to decline in the 1900s, as the family's fortunes changed. It was let out beginning in 1927, with most of its grand furnishings removed to the ancestral home out in the countryside. With the Blitz, even more was removed for safekeeping. Much more recently, Spencer House caught the eye of one of the Rothschilds and associated investors, and so began a lengthy and very costly renovation and restoration back to its glory days. Fortunately, the furnishings of those years were well documented and have mostly been re-created or restored, owing to the cooperation of the Victoria and Albert Museum and similar entities. Evidently, no expense was spared in regard to the authenticity of the renovation. The main function of the House these days is as a venue for hire, with tours like ours available now and then. Its private rooms are mostly the headquarters of the corporation responsible for the renovation. The House is still owned by the Spencers, namely Lady Diana's brother. Photography is permitted in only two of the House's many rooms, so my coverage will be limited. There is, of course, an excellent website, which well conveys the House's history, collections, and renovation. With lots of pix.

At St. James, right on the park; kings and queens among the neighbors

Bits of the interior opulence I won't attempt to describe

Except they probably had to corner the world gold leaf market for
the renovation

Restoration of the fireplace was said to have taken 6,000 man-hours

Note puffy button-covers

The guide: appropriately aristocratic bearing and scholarly air...