Orleans House Gallery in Richmond-Upon-Thames is an art gallery used for temporary and local exhibitions, education, and weddings. The site has a Tudor history and was built on Crown Land in 1710. It was named Orleans House after Louise Philippe, the rightful king of France, lived there. The house became the Orleans House Gallery in 1852 and features temporary and local exhibitions.
Orleans House Gallery is an art gallery located in Richmond-Upon-Thames in West Greater London. The site is on the bank of the River Thames and borders Marble Hill Park to the east. It is mainly used for a variety of temporary and local art exhibitions but is also used for educational purposes and as a wedding venue.
Historical evidence for settlement on the site dates back to the Tudor period of English history. There are accounts for two houses on the site in the 1500s and 1600s, however, by the end of the 17th century, the area was clear of housing. Twickenham, the part of Richmond where the Orleans House Gallery is located, was then a free village just outside London. The village was, however, situated on a scenic bend in the Thames and close enough to Hampton Court and the city to become a fashionable area in which to live.
James Johnston built the modern Orleans House Gallery on Crown Land in 1710. The original building was designed to be plain and ordinary; in other words, Protestant and Conservative. Intending to visit King George I, Johnston commissioned James Gibbs to build the Octagon Room in 1721. The room was built in the Baroque style and was dedicated to George II’s wife Caroline.
The Richmond house became Orleans House after the French Revolution. Louise Philippe, the rightful king of France, arrived in Britain after 1800. She came to live in the house and although she only stayed two years, she named it after her. This is because Louis Philippe’s title was that of Duc D’Oleans in French.
After Louis-Philippe became King of France and his abdication, his fifth son, Henri, bought Orleans House in 1852. This marked the first time the house would become the Orleans House Gallery. Henri brought with him a large number of books, artwork and ornate furniture from his old chateau in France. During his time at Orleans House, Henri added to his art collection.
The art was not to stay, however. In 1882 the Cunard family bought the house, but only held it until the early 1900s. Parts of the grounds were sold in 1919 to form Marble Hill Park and Orleans School. In 1926, a ballast and gravel dealer bought the house, stripped it of its artwork, and began tearing it down. Orleans House was saved and in 1962 was given to Twickenham Borough Council, who decided to use it as an art gallery.
Orleans House Gallery features two main exhibitions. First, there is a temporary exhibition in the main building. There are about five exhibitions each year. Secondly, there are seven local and community exhibitions in the stable gallery adjacent to the main building.
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