Ranger's House, Greenwich's Less-Known Museum
Georgian Villa Houses Diamond Magnate's Collection
Dec 30, 2008
The Ranger's House is often overlooked by tourists. It's a treasure chest of historic jewels, art and precious objects in an elegant 18th century mansion with Royal connections.
The house is open from 10-5 pm, Sunday to Wednesday, 31 March to 21 December. Full details of admission, including current charges, are on the English Heritage website. It's on the fringes of Greenwich Park, close to Greenwich and Blackheath railway stations and Cutty Sark station on the Docklands Light Railway. It has parking and access for those with disabilities. Blackheath is just two stops from Eltham by British Rail, making it possible to combine a visit to the Ranger's House with a trip to Eltham Palace.
History of the House
Greenwich Park was the first Royal Park in London, opened in 1433 and opened to the public in the 18th century. The Ranger was a nobleman or member of the royal family appointment to oversee the Park; the first ranger was Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex, appointed in 1690. The Ranger had lodginings in the Queen's House, but this fell into disrepair.
Ranger's House, built in 1723 by Admiral Francis Hosier, was inherited by the Earl of Chesterfield and known as Chesterfield House from 1748. It was occupied by one of George III's sisters in 1807 and was used as the official residence of the Ranger from 1815.
It remained a Royal home until 1900, and was bought by Greenwich Council in 1902. It was severely damaged by bombing during World War II and its future looked uncertain until local people lobbied for its restoration. Now under the care of English Heritage, it is furnished as it might have been in Admiral Hosier's day, and houses a collection of paintings, jewels and treasures collected by diamond magnate Sir Julius Wernher.
The Wernher Collection
Sir Julius and his wife collected English and French porcelain, furniture, medieval and Renaissance art and tapestries. Their son married Anastasia Romanov, a member of the former Russian Imperial Family, and added many renaissance and Faberge enamels to the collection. On Sir Julius' death in 1912, the collection remained in his mansion at Luton Hoo, but when his great-grandson died unexpectedly in 1991 the house was sold, and much of the collection was relocated to the Ranger's House, on loan to the nation for 125 years from 2001.
Almost 700 exquisite pieces include the largest collection of Spanish Renaissance jewellery in Europe, housed in a special jewellery vault. Paintings include works by Filippino Lippi, Hans Memlinc and Sir Joshua Reynolds. Sevres porcelain, Meissen figurines and French furniture can be admired alongside Limoges enamel, medieval ivories and Renaissance bronzes.
The Gardens
The house is set in a small but charming formal garden. The Meridian Line passes through the grounds, and this is certainly a quieter place than the usually crowded courtyard of the Royal Observatory.This is a most enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours in Greenwich.
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