The house from a 1794 print
Built / Designed For: Sir John Boyd
House & Family History: Early records show that an estate at Danson probably existed since before the 13th century, when the estate would have been arable land, pasture, and woodlands. The 18th century layout of the park is attributed to Capability Brown and a Mr. Richmond. The house, erected between 1762 and 1767 and designed by Robert Taylor, was built in the style of a classic Palladian villa for Sir John Boyd, a wealthy merchant. It contains five windows on each side, with a piano nobile over a half-story rusticated stone basement. The most impressive space is the elliptical staircase hall: a funnel-shaped top-lit well with eight Ionic columns below the dome and a fine wrought-iron balustrade. The saloon contains exceptional inset paintings of gods and goddesses between panels of a foliage design. The paintings are dated 1766 and are believed to have been executed by Charles Pavillon, an obscure French painter. In 1997 Danson House was leased to English Heritage for 999 years; it is currently open to the public on special viewing days only. In 2002 the house underwent extensive restoration by English Heritage; in 2005 it was officially opened by the Queen.
Garden & Outbuildings: The park became a public open space in the early 20th century, when the Bean family sold the estate to the Urban District Council of Bexley. The open space today occupies more than 180 acres. Ashlar Stables, to the northwest of the house, is today a pub. The garden temple, originally designed for Danson Park by Sir William Chambers, was moved to St. Paul's Walden Bury, Hertfordshire, in 1961.
Architect: Lancelot Brown
Date: Circa 1761Architect: William Oldham Chambers
Date: Circa 1770John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. II, p. 187, 1853.
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pgs. 243, 1025
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald, The 2000
Author: Newman, John
Year Published: 2000
Reference: pgs. 160-161
Publisher: London: Penguin Books
ISBN: 0140710388
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Gardens - St. Paul's Walden Bury, The
Author: NA
Year Published: 1998
Publisher: NA
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Light Softback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: Sir John Boyd, 18th century. Bean family, until early 20th century.
Current Ownership Type: Government
Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use
Ownership Details: Owned by London Borough of Bexley and operated by Kent County Council as the register office for Bexley, the house can also be booked for events.
House Open to Public: Grounds Open to the Public - House Only Open for Events / Exclusive Use
Phone: 03000-411-103
Fax: 02083-046-641
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.bexley.gov.uk/discover-bexley/visitor-attractions/danson-house-and-park/house
Historic Houses Member: No