Brunswick House is a large

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

mansion in

Vauxhall Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...

, in the London borough of

Lambeth Lambeth () is a district in South London, England, in the London Borough of Lambeth, historically in the County of Surrey. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The population of the London Borough of Lambeth was 303,086 in 2011. The area expe ...

Brunswick House dates back to the mid seventeenth century (the vaulted cellar still gives an idea of its size). The house was extended in 1758 on

freehold Freehold may refer to: In real estate *Freehold (law), the tenure of property in fee simple *Customary freehold, a form of feudal tenure of land in England *Parson's freehold, where a Church of England rector or vicar of holds title to benefice p ...

land owned by the Dawson family, purchased by Richard Dawson in 1737. In 1776 it was described as a 'mansion house, with offices, coach-house, and stable, lately erected by John Dawson' (Richard Dawson's nephew and heir). The site of the house and gardens measured nearly three acres and included a piece of land with a timber dock on lease from the

Dean of Canterbury The Dean of Canterbury is the head of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Christ Church, Canterbury, England. The current office of Dean originated after the English Reformation, although Deans had also existed before this time; its immediate precur ...

. In 1791 the house, which was then called Belmont House, was divided into two; the larger or southwestern portion was leased to a Mr David Hunter and the other portion was leased to a Mr William Anderson. Hunter's half was sold to the

Gas Light and Coke Company The Gas Light and Coke Company (also known as the Westminster Gas Light and Coke Company, and the Chartered Gas Light and Coke Company), was a company that made and supplied coal gas and coke. The headquarters of the company were located on H ...

in 1845 and purchased by the

London and South Western Railway The London and South Western Railway (LSWR, sometimes written L&SWR) was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Originating as the London and Southampton Railway, its network extended to Dorchester and Weymouth, to Salisbury, Exeter ...

Company in 1854. In 1811 Anderson's half was purchased by

Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Nobility Anhalt-Harzgerode * Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) Austria * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198 * Frederic ...

. The Duke was a bitter opponent of

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

's domination of Germany, and escaped to England after taking part in the

Battle of Wagram The Battle of Wagram (; 5–6 July 1809) was a military engagement of the Napoleonic Wars that ended in a costly but decisive victory for Emperor Napoleon's French and allied army against the Austrian army under the command of Archduke Charles ...

. He returned to Brunswick in 1813 to raise fresh troops, but two years later was killed at the

Battle of Quatre Bras The Battle of Quatre Bras was fought on 16 June 1815, as a preliminary engagement to the decisive Battle of Waterloo that occurred two days later. The battle took place near the strategic crossroads of Quatre Bras and was contested between ele ...

. His part of Belmont House was also purchased by the Gas Company and sold to the Railway Company in 1855. Hymnodist

Henry Williams Baker Sir Henry Williams Baker, 3rd Baronet (27 May 1821 – 12 February 1877), was an English Anglican priest and hymnwriter. Biography Baker was the son of Vice-admiral Sir Henry Loraine Baker, C.B., by his marriage with Louisa Anne, only daughter ...

was born at Brunswick (then Belmont) House on May 27, 1821. In January 1860 a fire severely damaged the Eastern part of the house. Within a few years the recently formed London and South West Railway Company had purchased the whole building and re-united the two parts. It became the goods' yard and locomotive works offices with the upper floors given over to a Scientific and Literary Institute for the railway's staff. The house remained in railway ownership until 1994 when it was sold to the railway staff association that was in occupation even though the adjacent railway yards had closed in 1967. The railwayman's association sold the house again in 2002. During the two years from 2002 to 2004 the building was squatted and extensively vandalised. A hundred and fifty years of railwaymen's club's papers and record books were burnt or stolen. Since then a major restoration programme has seen the building brought back into use and is now home to the Brunswick House Cafe and LASSCO's (the London Architectural Salvage and Supply company) antiques showrooms

References

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