Wick House, Richmond Hill
| Wick House | |
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Wick House, Richmond Hill
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | house |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Location | Richmond Hill |
| Address | 144 Richmond Hill, Richmond, TW10 6RN |
| Town or city | Richmond, London |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: 51°27′05″N 0°17′52″W / 51.4515°N 0.2979°W |
| Construction started | 1771 |
| Completed | 1772 |
| Client | Sir Joshua Reynolds |
| Owner | Royal Star and Garter Home |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Floor area | 8,785 square feet (816.2 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Chambers |
| Designations | Grade II listed building |
Wick House is a house in Richmond, Greater London, located near the corner of Nightingale Lane and Richmond Hill in Surrey. The painter Sir Joshua Reynolds commissioned the house from Sir William Chambers and it was completed in 1772.
The upper section of Richmond Hill on which Wick House is built historically fell within the parish boundaries of Petersham. The road on which it stands was known as the Causey or Causeway, King's Highway or Upper Highway. This was part of a main route between Richmond and Petersham until the construction of the present route of the Petersham Road in 1773, as the previous alternative route on the lower part of Richmond Hill was frequently impassable.
Richmond Park was enclosed by King Charles I in 1637, taking 306 acres (124 ha) of Petersham within it, most of which was common land. Richmond Gate, situated on the Causeway, was one of the original six entry gates into the Park. Wick House lies about a hundred metres from Richmond Gate on the northern boundary of the remaining section of Petersham Common.
Terrace Walk was laid out at the top of Richmond Hill in the later 18th century, followed by construction of a number of fine homes including Wick House.
The site overlooks the River Thames and shares the notable view from Richmond Hill.
Wick House was originally commissioned by Sir Joshua Reynolds from Sir William Chambers in 1771. Reynold's indecision about his requirements was a great annoyance to Chambers. Reynolds lived in the house from 1772 to his death in 1792. He participated in local affairs and is recorded to have attended meetings of Petersham Vestry. Not noted as a landscape painter, he nonetheless painted the famous view from his home in about 1778. The oil on canvas, 46 x 62 cm painting is now at the Orleans House gallery.Turner is said to have selected the location of his home in Twickenham as he would be able to see Reynolds' house from his window.
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