RESIDENTS JOUrNAL

THE HOUSE THAT

Turner Built
Image/Turners House Trust

Nestled away down a quiet, suburban street in Twickenham is one of Britains hidden architectural treasures: the house designed by iconic romantic painter J.M.W Turner. With fundraising efforts afoot to save the declining property, Jennifer Mason finds out why this long-forgotten gem is worth every penny

First Impressions

Ive got clear directions to Sandycombe Lodge from St. Margarets (turn right out of the station and follow Richmond Road for about three minutes until you see Sandycoombe Road, then youll nd the house, number 40, on your left) but strolling into the average-looking residential street thats home to one of the most exciting cultural discoveries in recent years, Im ashamed to say I walk right past the house itself. Stopping to consult the ubiquitous Google Maps and get my bearings, I retrace my steps until I come to a nondescript garden gate with chipped paint and faded letters indicating to the world that this is the property designed and built by one of Britains greatest painters J.M.W. Turner. In fact (if Im being honest) its only the laminated sign bearing the Turners House Trust logo

attached to the gate that gives me any indication at all that Im in the right place. My rst impression of the house is that its not somewhere I would want to visit after dark. It has that disused, unloved vibe common to the settings of so many horror movies; the once-bright white-painted bricks are faded and hidden behind giant yew trees, the windows are shuttered, and the garden path resembles the backdrop to a Rudyard Kipling novel. I half expect to see the ashing eyes of a jaguar peering at me from the foliage but thankfully its just one of the local cats to whom the plot has become a peaceful haven. I wasnt sure what I would nd at Sandycombe Lodge, but this certainly isnt what I expected. Im meeting art historian, Trust chairman and one of its founding members Catherine Parry-Wingeld, who greets me with a rueful smile and a softly-spoken question. Not quite what

The entrance at 13 Lincolns Inn Fields, built and designed by Sir John Soane. Similar in style to Sandycombe Lodges entranceway. Image / courtesy of Sir John Soane Museum

Sandycombe Lodge, engraving by W.B. Cooke after William Havells drawing of 1814, courtesy of Turners House Trust

Sandycombe Lodge viewed from Sandycoombe Road Image / Maxwell Hamilton

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RESIDENTS JOUrNAL

J.M.W. Turner, R.A.P.P., 1827, an etching by William Daniell after George Dances drawing of 1800

you expected? Im in the process of shaking my head and wondering how on earth Im going to manage to write over a thousand words about my visit, when the front door swings open and I catch my rst glimpse of the high arches in the entranceway. Even for an architectural layman like myself, theres something classic and yet unusual about the series of arches that make up the hallway, which, Catherine tells me, show the inuence of Turners architect friend Sir John Soane, as do the curved segments of wall that give the house its unique shape. Theres an air of gravitas about the house, despite the garish chipboard wallpaper and the lack of furniture. People often come to the house and say they can really feel Turners presence, says Catherine, but with all the past refurbishment and redecoration thats happened here I dont understand how. I think hed be turning in his grave to see the house as it is right now. Im inclined to agree with her the house clearly needs a lot of work and yet, to me the rooms appear as a blank canvas, something Im sure the artist in Turner would have appreciated. The house retains almost all of its original features (although second-oor extensions have been added to the wings since Turners day) including the striking skylight over the main staircase, but its in the basement rooms that the real history of the house comes through. I always associate these rooms with Turners father, Old William, says Catherine. He used to take care of the house and two acres of garden while his son was up in London sometimes he walked miles into the city to open Turners studio and prepare the canvases. I think he must have been a remarkable old codger. Theres certainly a presence to these rooms, a sense of home and family, and the beautiful arched windows draw plenty of natural light in, even on a cloudy day. Sadly, however, these rooms also house the majority of the damage that so desperately needs repairing.

Catherines research into Sandycombe Lodge and Turners life in Twickenham is brought to life in her book J.M.W.Turner, R.A. The Artist and his House at Twickenham, which you can buy at the house or at The Open Book in Richmond for 5.50. All proceeds go towards the restoration of Sandycombe Lodge.
Image / Turners House Trust

The Restoration
Ceiling collapses, blocked gutters, roots pushing through the exterior walls and oods rushing down the original (and until then undiscovered) coal chute are just some of the problems facing the restoration project. Its clear to me that not only is this house in dire need of a serious amount of TLC but also that, given sufcient funding, it could be a remarkable insight into one of Britains most beloved painters. Its one of Turners major works its his design, his concept; not just his home. Its something that he thought about over a considerable period of time and designed himself. It opens up a whole aspect of Turners life that never gets written about, explains Catherine. With experts engaged in examining the building before the restoration begins, and even taking paint scrapings from the original walls to match colours, its clear that a huge amount of thought has gone into this project. Wed love to get the house back to as close to its original design as possible, Catherine informs me, even if that means using some of the more unusual and vibrant colours Britain Turner, courtesy of Tate Richmond Hill by J.M.W. Turner was a fan of. I ask whether the bright yellow of the basement
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kitchen is an original Turner decorating decision. Were not sure yet, Catherine laughs, it could very well be! I wonder how far through the restoration process they are currently. You cant start what you cant nish, Damage to the basement walls she sighs, so we cant make a start on the house until weve raised the full 2 million we need to nish the project. Weve had such a struggle so far trying to inch our way forward and stop any more bad things happening to the house when we had no money in the bank, so the rst development grant we received (135,000) from the Heritage Lottery Fund was an absolute godsend. Since then weve been incredibly lucky to get 140,000 from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Challenge Fund, as well as some very generous donations from members of the public, especially since we launched the appeal at Tate Britain. Most people donate between 25 and 500, but we had one donation of 10,000 which was wonderful. The Trust would love to see the project nished by 2016, but, as Catherine points out, that will all depend on how quickly they can raise the rest of the cash. The process of building conservation will take somewhere between a year and 18 months, which is not that long, really, says Catherine. I just wish we could start tomorrow.

The Restoration Proposal courtesy of Butler Hegarty Architects (butlerhegartyarchitects.co.uk)

Turners Legacy
Even as a relative newcomer to the art world I can see the potential housed within this unique building, and the Trusts plans for the Outreach Programme are, according to Catherine, just as important as the building itself. It will draw together people from all walks of life to extend the process of creating artwork into the 21st century, using iPads and tablets, she tells me. It means we can reach beyond the walls of the house and out into the community that once played a huge part in Turners life and creative process. Thats why its so important to preserve this place its the site of his inspiration, and we hope in the future it will be inspiring for countless budding artists of all ages. I ask Catherine what she thinks Turners opinion of the restoration project would be. I think hed probably nd it all rather amusing, she says with a smile. Turner was a very proud man, so I think he would be pleased that his reputation has outlived him.

As we head towards the front door, under the iconic arches, and back out into the street, I think about the scope of the task that Catherine and the Turners House Trust have ahead of them and I wonder how they stay positive when faced with the sheer volume of fundraising left to do before they reach their target. The best part of my job, says Catherine, is realising that now weve got a real chance to make this happen. n

Sandycombe Lodge, 40 Sandycoombe Road, Twickenham, TW1 2LR For more information or to arrange a visit contact info@turnerintwickenham.org.uk

How You Can Help

Whether youre an avid art fan or youd simply like to see this important piece of local culture restored to its former glory, there are a number of different ways you can get involved in the project. All donations are greatly appreciated, but the Trust is always looking for hands-on volunteers too, for everything from gardeners to tour guides. If youre interested in volunteering your time or ideas, or for details of the online donation page, visit turnerintwickenham.org.uk

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