Hurst House was known originally as the Naked Beauty, often attributed to a statue which stood in front of the house. Henry Raine (1679 - 1738) built this elegant brick villa between 1711 and 1714 as a rural retreat from his brewery in Wapping. The house was built during the reign of Queen Anne in the English Baroque style of Nicholas Hawksmoor.
In 1719 Henry Raine became the principal benefactor of a charity school in Wapping for 50 boys and 50 girls, which later became the Raine Foundation School. The house was lived in by wealthy city merchants until the late 19th century when it became Woodford House School. Before the First Wold War the villa became a private residence again and was damaged by fire in 1936 when the roof and upper storeys were rebuilt. Hurst House is listed by English Heritage as Grade II*.
Site: Hurst House (3 memorials)
IG8, Broomhill Walk, 1, Hurst House
The two plaques can be seen in our photo, on the front boundary, towards the left.
This house, originally known as the Naked Beauty, was built by Henry Raine, 1711-14, on what was then Woodford Row. It was lived in by wealthy city merchants. and later additional wings on either side joined up the outbuildings and stables, giving the house an impressive façade.
During the 19th century, the building was split into two residences and Woodford House was built to replace the north wing and its stables. This part of the building was used in the late 19th century as a school, Woodford House School, and it’s the only time the property wasn’t a private residence. We think Woodford House must have been on the land now occupied by the two houses immediately north of Hurst House.
The house reverted back to a home once again shortly before WWI and has remained in private hands ever since. Fire, which broke out in a maid’s bedroom, devastated the building in 1936, destroying the entire top story of the main house and its south wing. The subsequent works included improvements.
Information from estate agents , who also have photos of the rear and the interior of this lovely house.
. The house is shown on this and this but they are not very informative.
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