Horace

Horatio Walpole, younger brother of Sir Robert, affectionately known as ‘Old Horace’ created Wolterton as we see it today. He purchased what was previously modest medieval manor house and set about extensively renovating until, in 1724, a devastating fire put pay to his initial plans, paving the way for architect Ripley’s Palladian design.

A neighbour to Phillidia and also sporting a floor standing window to ‘partake of the beauties’ of the grounds which Old Horace wrote of to a friend in the 1740s. White ironstone china and vintage linen lampshades provide a perfect backdrop, with pinky hints picked up from the fairground/circus tent-inspired headboards in trim, teacups and Bert & May encaustic coaster tiles. Archival Watts and Co. wallpaper graces the walls.

We like to imagine that perhaps he was able to rescue the collection of ancient metalwork mantlepiece pieces. We rescued knitted BarBar the elephant from a basement box – see if you can spot him!