The second House from a circa 1899 postcard
Built / Designed For: Alexander Pope
House & Family History: Sir William Stanhope purchased the House in 1744, after Alexander Pope's death. Around 1759 Stanhope added wings to both sides of the House to give the building a more classical appearance. An oil painting (circa 1759, by Samuel Scott) showing the villa with Stanhope's new wings today hangs in the collection of the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Connecticut. Pope's Villa was demolished in 1807.
Garden & Outbuildings: Pope created one of the earliest and most important grottoes in Britain. Amazingly, this grotto is still intact and in the possession of St. Catherine's School at Cross Deep. Pope also set the style for Rococo gardens at his villa in Twickenham.
Title: Follies, Grottoes and Garden Buildings
Author: Headley, Gwyn; Meulenkamp, Wim
Year Published: 1999
Publisher: London: Aurum Press Ltd.
ISBN: 1854106252
Book Type: Softback
Title: Country Houses in Great Britain
Author: NA
Year Published: 1979
Publisher: New Haven: Yale Center for British Art
ISBN: 0930606191
Book Type: Softback
Title: Master Drawings from the National Portrait Gallery
Author: Rogers, Malcolm
Year Published: 1993
Publisher: London: National Portrait Gallery
ISBN: 1855141345
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Demolished
Park Listed: Destroyed
Past Seat / Home of: Alexander Pope, 18th century. Sir William Stanhope, 18th century.
Current Ownership Type: Demolished
Primary Current Ownership Use: Demolished
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No