The House at Osterley Park

The South Wing Conservation Project - Inside Out: Conservation in Focus

Over time, the effects of rain, wind and pollution cause damage to historic buildings. On the south side of Osterley House this damage can be seen in the appearance of the windows, stones, bricks, and roof tiles.

The large-scale conservation work we are doing is vital to stopping the building from deteriorating further and spreading damage into internal spaces some of which display the most exquisite Robert Adam interiors and collections.

Due to the invasive nature of the external work, a lot of dust can be created. As such we have had to protect the objects inside the house to prevent damage occurring to them during the process of cleaning the outside. During this process visitors will therefore get a very different view of the Drawing Room and State Apartments of this side of the house.

Supporting the cause

The external conservation work is costing the National Trust £270,000 to complete, £100,000 of this is being funded by a generous gift.

Supporting the National Trust means you can be part of ensuring Osterley Park & House is here for everyone, forever.

Some ways you can help:

• Text OST to 70525 to donate £5

• Visit the Garden Kiosk to speak with a staff member about making a donation

• Leave a gift in your will. Find out more about this at nationaltrust.org.uk/support-us/gifts-in-wills or email legacies@nationaltrust.org.uk.

The Long Gallery

Spanning the entire length of the house, the Long Gallery on a sunny afternoon, glows in soft shades of green and gold. The length of the room means it was the perfect space for the Child family to display their wonderful art collection.

The Entrance Hall

With influences of ancient Greece and Rome and a soft colour scheme of grey and white, this room would have been used to welcome guests as well as hosting dinners, parties and balls.

The Eating Room

This was where the Child family would have eaten and entertained their friends and guests. Almost every aspect of the room was designed by Adam, from stucco wall decorations to gilt mahogany sideboards.

The room looks unfurnished, as the tables and chairs were either placed against the walls of the room or stored in an adjoining corridor when not in use.

The Tapestry Room

The first of a series of rooms that make up the State Apartment, which were designed to impress important guests such as royalty.

Completed in 1775 by French tapestry makers, Gobelins, these brightly coloured tapestries are in remarkable condition for their age. The tapestries took four years to complete and contain subtle references to Mrs Child’s love of her garden and animals.

The State Bedroom

Described as a mixture of a classic temple and theatrical stage setting, the magnificent eight-poster state bed was designed by Adam to impress. Rarely slept in, if at all, Robert and Sarah Child had much more modest rooms upstairs.

The Etruscan Room

The final instalment of the State Apartment, Adam’s vision for this room was inspired by his four-year tour of Europe in 1754 – 58 and the collection of Greek and Roman pottery of Sir William Hamilton. Adam’s designs for the walls were copied in pencil onto paper which was then pasted onto canvas and fixed to the walls before finally being painted in situ. However, it’s not completely perfect – if you look close enough you can find a missing part of the design and pencil lines from the artists preparatory sketches.

Below Stairs

The ground floor would have been the real hub of the house, with staff busy making life ‘above stairs’ run smoothly. The kitchen, servants’ hall, steward's room and more all provide a glimpse into the forgotten world of scullery maids and footmen.