Built / Designed For: Elizabeth, Countess of Home

House & Family History: Home House is an exceptionally fine Georgian London townhouse at No. 20 Portman Square in the City of Westminster. In 1926 the House was leased by Samuel Courtauld to house his growing art collection; at his wife's death in 1931 he gave the House and the collection to the new Courtauld Institute of Art as a temporary home. The "temporary" accommodation lasted until 1989, when the Courtauld Institute left for new premises in Somerset House. After the Courtauld Institute's departure the House was purchased by Berkeley Adam Ltd., who let it remain vacant until 2004, when it was sold to new owners who turned No. 20 Portman Square into Home House Private Members Club, joining it with Nos. 19 and 21. As part of the research undertaken during the extensive and lavish refurbishment, it was revealed that Home House was originally designed in 1776 by James Wyatt for Elizabeth, Countess of Home. In 1777 Wyatt was replaced by Robert Adam, who probably only designed the interiors (it had previously been believed that Adam designed the entire house). The Italian decorative painter Antonio Zucchi (husband of the famous Angelica Kaufman) worked with Adam on the lavish interiors of Home House, which are almost unequaled in London for their Neoclassical splendor.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Elizabeth, Countess of Home, 18th century. William Gale, 18th century. Marquis de la Luzerne, French ambassador to the Court of St. James's, 1788-91. John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl, 1798-1808. Henry Pelham Alexander Pelham-Clinton, 6th Duke of Newcastle, 1820-61. Sir Francis Henry Goldsmid, 1862-1919. John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington, 1919-26.

Current Ownership Type: Club

Primary Current Ownership Use: Club

Ownership Details: Today Home House Private Members Club

House Open to Public: By Appointment

Phone: 02076-702-000

Fax: 02076-702-000

Website: https://homehouse.co.uk

Historic Houses Member: No