Three centuries of style: Chiswick House and Gardens

Three centuries of style: Chiswick House and Gardens

When we were looking for a backdrop to shoot our new Autumn/Winter 22 campaign against, something with history, noblesse, style, and sheer beauty, a a stone’s throw from central London, only one place sprung to mind - Chiswick House and Gardens. Created by two Georgian trendsetters, the architect and designer William Kent and his friend and patron Richard Boyle, the third Earl of Burlington, the pair began work in 1725 until about 1738. It was a notable game-changer in British architectural history, mainly because the pair was greatly Influenced by their travels on the Grand Tour.

Rejecting the showy, Baroque style fashionable in England at the time, Kent and the Earl of Burlington landed upon a simpler, symmetrical design based on the classical architecture of Italy. Where the gardens were concerned, they ripped up the formality of the early 18th-century garden preferring a much more natural-looking landscape, which subsequently became known as the English Landscape Movement, which inspired gardens from Blenheim Palace to New York’s Central Park.


After the earl’s death in 1753, the estate passed to the Dukes of Devonshire by marriage. The 5th Duke demolished the old Jacobean manor house and make a mansion of the villa, while the gardens had significant remodellings. When the Devonshires eventually moved to their main residence circa 1860, the house was rented out to a number of notables including Edward Prince of Wales who hosted his mother Queen Victoria, members of the royal family, and guests from across the world at his garden parties. When the Tuke brothers, Thomas and Charles, took over the lease, they turned Chiswick House into a pioneering mental health institution from 1892 to 1928.  The Tukes wanted their invariably wealthy patients to feel as though they were recuperating in a country house, hence why they kept much of the 6th Duke of Devonshire’s furniture.

Interior Splendour

As we discovered, the interior of Chiswick House is still magnificent, but when it was a functioning household of Burlington and Kent, and then later the Devonshires, it must have been one of the most eye-opening in all of London. For the Earl of Burlington, the house provided him ample space for his vast collection of “paintings, specially-designed furniture and souvenirs from his European travels. The lavish interiors of the first floor, the ‘piano nobile’, were hung with richly coloured velvet.  These wall coverings have been re-created in the Blue Velvet Room, Lord Burlington’s private study, which is hung with hand-woven blue silk velvet.”

So far, so decadent. According to the historians of the house: “In the 18th century, the velvet hangings would have been almost obscured by a huge number of paintings. Lord Burlington was one of 18th-century Britain’s greatest art collectors and his support of designers, artists and musicians earned him the title ‘Apollo of the Arts’, bestowed on him by the historian and writer Horace Walpole. By the early 1890s, Chiswick had largely been cleared of its collections, but from the mid-1950s onwards some pieces have returned. Today the Upper Tribune provides the best example of Burlington’s original picture hang.”

William Kent had a large hand in the interior design, too. Kent designed furniture specially for Chiswick House, most of which featured a scallop shell motif that became his trademark. He was also responsible for the painted ceilings at Chiswick - his splendid ceiling in the Red Velvet Room shows Mercury, representing commerce, directing Abundance (who holds a cornucopia or horn of plenty) to the three visual arts – Architecture, Sculpture and Painting. When the house passed to the 5th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, it was redecorated in their vision, leaning on elements of Anglo-French, neo-classical style, creating “an impression of lightness and elegance.”

We think it’s a splendid scene for our collection this year and feel very honoured to have been able to shoot there. Well worth a visit next time you’re in West London!

Older Post Newer Post

It's Henley Week! Here Are A Few Style Notes

It's Henley Week! Here Are A Few Style Notes

It's Day 1 of Henley week! From lightweight linen blazers to summery dresses, discover how to master the regatta’s sartorial elegance with sophistication and ease.

Read more
The Royal Ascot Round-Up 2025

The Royal Ascot Round-Up 2025

What a week of racing and fashion! Here are some of the Favourbrook highlights and the moments that made the week.

Read more
Lightweight Morning Coats For Summer Events

Lightweight Morning Coats For Summer Events

Morning coats are typical worn in the summer so why are so many cut in heavy wool cloth? At Favourbrook, we have a selection of...

Read more
Wardrobe Strategy For A Busy Summer Season

Wardrobe Strategy For A Busy Summer Season

And we're off! Here's what the summer season has in store over the next few months and what should be wearing to stand out from...

Read more
Dressing for European Weddings with Favourbrook: Timeless Elegance for Men and Women

Dressing for European Weddings with Favourbrook: Timeless Elegance for Men and Women

If you're attending an overseas wedding this summer, read our guide on how to dress accordingly.

Read more
What to Wear to Garsington Opera 2025: Dress Codes, Style Tips, and Festival Highlights

What to Wear to Garsington Opera 2025: Dress Codes, Style Tips, and Festival Highlights

Fast becoming one of the highlights of the season, the Garsington Opera at Wormsley is a beautiful occasion to dress up for...

Read more
Mastering the Royal Enclosure: Crafting the Perfect Morning Dress Ensemble

Mastering the Royal Enclosure: Crafting the Perfect Morning Dress Ensemble

Royal Ascot racegoers, if you have been invited to the Royal Enclosure this year, this article is a must-read to ensure your morning suit ensemble...

Read more
What We're Wearing At The Chelsea Flower Show This Week

What We're Wearing At The Chelsea Flower Show This Week

Chelsea Flower Show begins today, showcasing some of the worlds finest horticultural talents. Even if you're not green-fingered, it's a chance to socialise in style,...

Read more
Four Wedding Looks For Summer Elegance

Four Wedding Looks For Summer Elegance

With a busy summer schedule and weekends loaded up with weddings, we've curated four sophisticated looks to ensure you make a statement.

Read more
The Best Open-Air Operas And How To Dress For Them

The Best Open-Air Operas And How To Dress For Them

Out in the open air is a delightful way to experience opera and there is no shortage of stunning events at which to do so...

Read more
Ascot 2025: Ladies Day Everyday

Ascot 2025: Ladies Day Everyday

As Ascot gallops ever closer, it's time to get your outfit sorted! We share some of our best tips for getting the ball rolling...

Read more
The Favourbrook Process: How to Secure Your Wedding Look

The Favourbrook Process: How to Secure Your Wedding Look

So you've booked a morning suit consultation for your wedding at Favourbrook. Here's what you can expect and how to get the most out of...

Read more