The Grand Staircase when the House served as the British Museum. From "Old and New London," circa 1880.
Earlier Houses: The first Montagu House was designed by Robert Hooke for Ralph, 1st Duke of Montagu, and built between 1675 and 1679. This house was noted for its grand, very French interiors and contained outstanding ceilings by Verrio. On the evening of January 19, 1686 the House was destroyed by fire while it was being let to the 4th Earl of Devonshire for 500 guineas a year. The losses were estimated at £40,000 (equivalent to £4.5 million in 2002 values) for the House and £6,000 (£680,000 in 2002 values) for the silver plate. The first Montagu House was replaced by the second Montagu House, Bloomsbury, the subject of this record.
Built / Designed For: Ralph Montagu, later 1st Duke of Montagu.
House & Family History: After the burning of Hooke's first house in 1686 a new, very Parisian-style house, was designed by a French architect by the name of Pouget for the 1st Duke of Montagu. It was built in 1687 with mansard roofs and was very advanced stylistically for its time. The State Apartments were all by French artists and were greatly admired by Horace Walpole. The 2nd Duke of Montagu found his father's house too large and built himself a smalller London townhouse, Montagu House, Whitehall. Following the death of the 2nd Duke of Montagu in 1749 Montagu House, Bloomsbury, was purchased by the trustees of the British Museum for £20,000, who used the House as their first premises. In the 1840s Montagu House was demolished to make way for Robert Smirke's new British Museum (the building the Museum occupies today.)
Collections: The first Montagu House contained a fine collection of paintings, with noted works by Holbein and other Old Masters. In the 1730s some fittings and furniture from the second Montagu House were removed to Boughton House, the family's Northamptonshire seat.
Architect: Robert Hooke
Date: 1675-79
Title: Great Houses of London, The
Author: Pearce, David
Year Published: 1986
Reference: pgs. 114-116
Publisher: New York: The Vendome Press
ISBN: 0865650632
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Great Drawings from the Collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Author: Harris, John; Lever, Jill; Richardson, Margaret
Year Published: NA
Reference: pg. 69
Publisher: London: Trefoil Books
ISBN: 0862940362
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Country Life (magazine)
Author: NA
Year Published: NA
Reference: Feb 6, 2003, pg. 58
Publisher: London: Future plc
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Magazine
Title: Spencer House: Chronicle of a Great London Mansion
Author: Friedman, Joseph
Year Published: 1993
Publisher: London: Zwemmer
ISBN: 0302006176
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - SOFTBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 1995
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300072074
Book Type: Softback
House Listed: Demolished
Park Listed: No Park
Past Seat / Home of: Ralph Montagu, 1st Earl and 1st Duke of Montagu, 17th century. William Cavendish, 4th Earl of Devonshire, late 17th century (as a tenant).
Current Ownership Type: Demolished
Primary Current Ownership Use: Demolished
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No