Interested in the marriage of history & design? This one’s for you!
Following the release of the highly anticipated English Heritage lighting collection, we’ll explore directly how these lights take form from the classic properties as well as the importance of capturing English history and design in modern forms. An informative dive into the new collection.
This collection brings together a well-rounded compilation of English Design, highlighting significant periods through their properties. From arts & crafts, to Jacobean and Victorian, this offers an authentic exploration of English design and history that will sit beautifully within the present. We love the concept of eternalising this history for modern people to enjoy and continue and are extremely proud to be one of the few stockists for this thoughtful collaboration.
*all information has been gathered from the English Heritage’s website*
Osbourne House
Osbourne House is the incredibly grand summer home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the Isle of Wight. An opulent example of Victorian sensibilities by the sea.
The house is somewhat a mystery up to 1705 when the property was moderately built up by the Blachford family, extended to a three story residence in 1774. However, this would later be demolished and recreated into the incredible large scale property that exists today.
Victoria and Albert purchased the property in 1845 and immediately started construction with master builder Thomas Cubitt, completing the Pavillion which housed the royal rooms a year later. Further wings and extensions were added over the years with design codes being borrowed from Italian renaissance palazzos as per Albert’s wishes. It is said the natural area reminded Albert of the Bay of Naples, which he had visited in 1839.
The lights of this collection perfectly mirror this aesthetic, with an ornate tiered crystal chandelier a smaller-scale replication of the incredible chandeliers found in the property. Using a delightful mixture of coffin, teardrop and bead shaped crystals to perfectly catch the light. This style has also undergone a modern adaption with a beautiful tiered flush light, allowing any type of property to enjoy the essence and glamour of this iconic piece of history and design.
Explore lights inspired by Osbourne House here
Audley End House
Audley End House is firmly rooted with significance to English History, originally the site of Walden Abbey in 1190, transformed into a private residence under Henry VIII, before becoming one of the grandest and most opulent Jacobean houses when it was rebuilt in 1605 by Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk. Even being owned by King Charles II for a year. The property’s stories continue, being saved from decay by various owners, home to the Polish special ops training during the second world war, before being sold to the state in 1948.
Audley End House is rich in history and transformation, lending itself to many design interpretations and highlights, so it is only fitting that this property has received two styles in the English Heritage Lighting collection.
The canopy of the state bed in the Howard Suite embellished with gold delicate tole, has been re-imaged to create striking chandelier lights. The aptly named ‘Audely End Chandelier’ features delicate hand applied gold leaves. The chandeliers metal florals interspersed and bejewelled with gorgeous crystal accents.
The artistry used in the making of the chandelier lights is a kin to the craftsmanship of the past. Each hand applied leaf is perfectly angled to catch the light, thus creating a glorious visual treat when the light is switched on.
Available in 3 lavish designs, a grand 6 light, a miniaturised 3 light version and a semi-flush version for the rooms with lower ceiling heights. This opulent shimmering gold and crystal light oozes the sophisticated elegance of a palatial mansion, yet is proportioned to a scale that suits normal sized homes. These will fit timelessly into both contemporary and traditional spaces while reflecting the luxury of a bygone English King.
Surprisingly one of the inspirations came, not from the elaborate stonework, not the Capability Brown gardens and not the opulent richly decorated rooms. Instead it was the servants domain the scullery or kitchen that yielded the essence of the place and captivated the design team. They revelled in the form and functionality of the space. The clean hardworking Victorian kitchens, on first glance utilitarian, yet rich in patina with an authentic appeal that easily translates to the perfect pallet for todays modern interiors. Rich warm bronze effect metalwork was teamed with putty metallic shades. The ceiling lights and wall light offers todays interiors the style of bygone era bringing character and charm in abundance. These classic lights have a more sober feel but are still stunningly inviting through their thoughtful design and charming details such as the faux gas taps.
Discover the Audley End House Lights
Marble Hill House
The Georgian archetype that inspired architecture of the time all the way to plantation houses in the south of the US, this incredible property based in Twickenham, has inspired a broad range of lights in this collection, from the delicate chinoiserie wallpaper reimagined as shades, to the structure and forms of the building shaping the look of the table lamps and chandeliers.
The property was built in the 1720s by Henrietta Howard, mistress of King George II whilst he was the Prince of Wales and sits on the north-west bank of the Thames in Twickenham. An excellent example of Palladian architecture based on the classical principles and codes of 16th-century Italian architect Palladio, now one of the last remaining villas lining the Thames, this incredible property was a trophy of the rare independence and freedom Henrietta achieved for herself as a woman of Georgian England.
The lighting inspired by Marble Hill house includes a beautiful shadeliers capturing the history of the property and the incredible chinoiserie wallpaper of the dining room, in a contemporary form. Encapsulating historic design sentiments in beautiful light shades to be enjoyed today. Enjoy delicate floral blooms along with swooping birds for a romantic finish in your room.
For a more classic look, the collection’s wonderful pendants, wall lights and table lamps pair beautifully together, with the classic candlestick style available in brass and nickel. Their design reflects the structure of Marble Hill House, clean-lined enough to fit effortlessly into contemporary spaces, and classical enough for traditional. This collection will work well in any property.
Also customisable through the addition of the wonderful English Heritage Shades.
Explore the full Marble Hill lighting collection.
Eltham Palace
An incredibly old English settlement dating back before the Domesday survey of 1086, undergoing many transformations until it became a classic moated and walled manor. The manor was gifted to Edward II in 1305 and was subsequently one of the largest and most frequented royal residences in the country by the 14th century, with extensive updates and alterations made to the property until it became and amalgamation of medieval and tudor construction. Eltham palace was favoured up to Henry VII, leading to the properties decline.
Up to the early 19th century the palace was used as a farm and held tenants, and despite campaigns to repair it, rooms such as the great hall that once held royal feasts, were used as a tennis court for residents.
The palace was then leased by the millionaire Courtauld family from the crown in 1933, who searched for a property within easy reach of London. The family hired architects Seely & Paget to controversially design them a modern home within the site of the later 19th century buildings, while retaining the historical palace, with repairs taking place on the great hall.
Eltham Palace is now known for its melting pot of styles and the incredible art deco addition from the Courtaulds, where the lighting takes its inspiration.
The Eltham Palace lights feature incredible curving crystal, reflecting the circular shapes found in repeated through the Courtauld’s art deco addition to the palace. With the large scale table lamp making a showstopping statement piece.
These lights create a tangible link to the rich history of this property and reflect many of the same sentiments surrounding the balance of new and old when it comes to design and how beautiful the results are when the two are married together aesthetically.
Eltham Palace is a testament to the beauty of thoughtfully blending different design periods in one property, respecting the old but making way for the new.
Discover the Eltham inspired lighting here
Down House
Down House is an incredibly iconic property to British culture, as the famed home of Charles Darwin. The beautiful country house was purchased by Darwin in 1842, upon which extensions were made such as the full-height bay window overlooking the garden. This incredible property was found to have samples of wallpaper dating back to the beginning of the arts and crafts movement.
This wonderful arts and crafts blue sprig pattern has been directly recreated and interpreted into textiles for this collection’s beautiful shaded lights and drum shades. It has a timeless and quintessentially English feel to it, reminiscent of our gentle springs and summers, fitting well into the genius loci of the English countryside. This pattern being a direct recreation is an incredible asset to the collection as it truly allows a beautiful design made almost 200 years ago to be enjoyed by us now and is a testament to the relevance and timelessness this style still holds.
St John Street Shades
English Heritage has been working alongside Designers Guild to archive wallpapers and textiles found in their incredible properties. St John Street, Clerkenwell sits on an ancient route from London towards the north of England, inhabited by tradesmen, the property is likely to have been built in the 18th Century. Here fragments of classic block-printed wallpaper were found and have been beautifully preserved by the Designers Guild, inspiring the fabrics of this collection’s shades.
The shades come in a variety of sizes, perfect for adorning, table lamps, ceiling pendants and even wall lights. We recommend pairing them with the Marble Hill collection, with the smaller of these shades making a wonderful addition to the multiarmed pendants or the larger with the Marble Hill table lamp. Mixing these designs together truly encapsures the genius of this collection through the sense that these wonderful windows of design throughout our history sit so beautifully together and melt into one another naturally.
Wrest Park
An incredible house built in the 19th century following the style of an 18th century French chateau, with incredible gardens containing three centuries of design. The property was owned by aristocratic family the de Greys for 600 years. Whilst the house had medieval origins, Thomas Robinson, 2nd Earl de Grey, as a budding architect, demolished the crumbling remains and built the chateau style property in its space between 1834 and 1839. This new French style appropriately complimented the existing gardens, including Thomas Archer’s pavilion built in 1711, featuring an incredible trompe l’oeil domed ceiling.
Two wonderful lights have been attributed to this incredible property in the English Heritage collection, with the stunning classically formed chandelier featuring ornate ribbed glass details, perfect for catching the light. Complimented perfectly by the matching wall lights.
If you love this concept as much as we do explore the full collection here.