Fenton House
Encyclopedia
Fenton House is a 17th century merchant's house in Hampstead
in North London
which belongs to the National Trust
, bequeathed to them in 1952 by Lady Binning, its last owner and resident. It is a detached house with a walled garden, which is large by London standards, and features rose
s, an orchard
and a working kitchen garden. The interior houses the Benton Fletcher
collection of early keyboard
instruments, one of which is often played to visitors during opening hours, and collections of paintings (including the collection of Peter Barkworth
, and loans of Sir William Nicholson
paintings), porcelain
, 17th-century needlework
pictures and Georgian
furniture
. It also has a fine portraits of Dorothy Jordan, William IV
, George IV
, Frederick FitzClarence
and Adolphus Fitzclarence
- one of Jordan's daughters by William IV lived in the house.
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
in North London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
which belongs to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, bequeathed to them in 1952 by Lady Binning, its last owner and resident. It is a detached house with a walled garden, which is large by London standards, and features rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
s, an orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
and a working kitchen garden. The interior houses the Benton Fletcher
Benton Fletcher
Major George Henry Benton Fletcher was a collector of early keyboard instruments such as virginals, clavichords, harpsichords and spinnets. He was also involved in social work, and dug as an archaeologist alongside Flinders Petrie....
collection of early keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
instruments, one of which is often played to visitors during opening hours, and collections of paintings (including the collection of Peter Barkworth
Peter Barkworth
Peter Wynn Barkworth was an English actor.-Early life:Peter Barkworth was born at Margate, Kent. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Bramhall in Cheshire and Barkworth was educated at Stockport School. His headmaster wanted him to go to university but Barkworth had set his heart on a career...
, and loans of Sir William Nicholson
William Nicholson (artist)
Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson was an English painter of still-life, landscape and portraits, also known for his work as a wood-engraver, illustrator, author of children's books and designer for the theatre....
paintings), porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
, 17th-century needlework
Needlework
Needlework is a broad term for the handicrafts of decorative sewing and textile arts. Anything that uses a needle for construction can be called needlework...
pictures and Georgian
Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
. It also has a fine portraits of Dorothy Jordan, William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
, George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
, Frederick FitzClarence
Lord Frederick FitzClarence
Lt.-Gen. Lord Frederick FitzClarence, GCH was an illegitimate son of King William IV and his mistress, Dorothea Jordan...
and Adolphus Fitzclarence
Lord Adolphus FitzClarence
Rear-Admiral Lord Adolphus FitzClarence, GCH, ADC, RN was a British naval officer.FitzClarence was born at Bushy Park, Middlesex and was an illegitimate child of Prince William, Duke of Clarence and his mistress, Dorothy Jordan...
- one of Jordan's daughters by William IV lived in the house.