Lauderdale House

In the early 17th Century it was occupied by Sir Henry Hobart, who in 1616 had built Blickling Hall, Norfolk, now a National Trust property.

The house was bought by Henrietta Maria's silkman William Geere, who sold it to Mary, Countess of Home.

In 1666 it was visited by Charles II and Samuel Pepys, while Nell Gwyn is said to have lived there briefly in 1670.

For some time it was the home of James Yates, antiquary and Unitarian, who retired there to spend years of "learned leisure" amidst "a noble library and a fine collection of works of art".

[4] In 1882 the then owner, Sir Sydney Waterlow, the famous printer, donated it 'for the enjoyment of Londoners'.