Strawberry Hill

Strawberry Hill House was built by Horace Walpole from 1747 as his “little Gothic castle.” A pioneer of the Gothic Revival, Walpole opened the house to the public in his lifetime, publishing guides and delighting in its theatricality. His novel The Castle of Otranto — written after a dream in the house — became the foundation of Gothic fiction.

The house passed to sculptor Anne Damer, then to the Waldegraves, who sold off the collection in the 1842 “Great Sale.” In the 1850s, Lady Waldegrave extended and revived the house as a grand venue for Victorian society. In the 20th century, it was home to the Vincentian Fathers and later to St Mary’s University.

In 2007, the Strawberry Hill Trust began a major £10 million restoration, and the house reopened to the public in 2010. It is now a vibrant visitor destination, hosting exhibitions, concerts, and community events — and celebrating 275 years since Walpole first began his fantastical experiment in architecture.