Downe House is a Grade II listed house on Richmond Hill, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, which has been occupied by playwright

Richard Brinsley Sheridan Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan (30 October 17517 July 1816) was an Irish satirist, a politician, a playwright, poet, and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He is known for his plays such as '' The Rivals'', '' The ...

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...

' lead vocalist

Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...

and model

Jerry Hall Jerry Faye Hall (born July 2, 1956) is an American model and actress. She began modelling in the 1970s and became one of the most sought after models in the world. She transitioned into acting, appearing in the 1989 film '' Batman''. Hall was t ...

Description

The

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 ...

house dates from 1780, is on part of Richmond Hill and overlooks the

Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...

; the apex of the Thames side of the hill marks the start of

Richmond Park Richmond Park, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is the largest of London's Royal Parks, and is of national and international importance for wildlife conservation. It was created by Charles I in the 17th century as a deer park ...

which itself forms the plateau at the top of the hill, the largest urban park in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. The home was built of brown brick with yellow window dressing. It includes four storeys and a basement with bays on either side and balconies above. It features modillion cornice and

balustrading A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its co ...

above and cast-iron balustrades on the second floor windows. Windows above the bays are round-headed, and others are square-headed sash windows. The porch has heavy entablature and Doric piers.

History

Part of the Royal Manor of Richmond since Domesday,

was enclosed (fully privatised) by King Charles I around 1635 as a post-medieval deer park. The manor was mostly agricultural land in the early 18th century, but Terrace Walk was laid out at the top of Richmond Hill in the later 18th century, followed by construction of further grand houses, including Downe House. The house is thought to have been built around 1780, and at one time was owned by

. Mick Jagger bought the house in the early 1990s where he lived with his longtime partner, model Jerry Hall. After the two separated, Jerry Hall remained in Downe House while Jagger moved into a flat next door. It is listed as Grade II by

Historic England Historic England (officially the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is tasked w ...

References

External links

Image of Downe House from Everystock Photo
{{coord, 51.4531, -0.2989, type:landmark_region:GB-RIC, display=title 1780s establishments in England Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames History of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Houses in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Richmond, London