Orleans House Gallery

Orleans House Gallery is a free public art gallery in Twickenham, within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. It is housed in the surviving fragments of Orleans House, an 18th-century Palladian villa built in 1710 for the politician and diplomat James Johnston. The gallery, which opened in 1972, holds the Richmond Borough Art Collection and presents a year-round programme of exhibitions, live events, and educational workshops. Its centrepiece is the Grade I listed baroque Octagon Room, designed by architect James Gibbs in 1720, which survives from the original mansion alongside a service wing and a converted stable block. The gallery sits in riverside gardens overlooking the River Thames and serves as a community hub for arts and culture in the borough.

The site originated as Orleans House, a Palladian villa constructed by architect John James in 1710 for James Johnston, who had served as King's envoy to Berlin and played a role in securing the Hanoverian succession. Johnston created extensive grounds featuring canals, an icehouse, kitchen and pleasure gardens, a wilderness, a grotto, and a fruit garden. In 1720, architect James Gibbs added the baroque octagonal room to entertain Queen Caroline, consort of George II, who regarded Johnston with favour. The house later took its name from Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, the future King of France, who lived there in exile between 1813 and 1815. By the early 20th century the mansion had fallen derelict and was mostly demolished in 1926; the site was subsequently used for gravel quarrying throughout the 1930s. The octagon room and outbuildings were saved through the efforts of local resident the Hon. Nellie Levy, later Nellie Ionides, who bequeathed the property together with her collection of 18th- and 19th-century pictures to the borough. The buildings were listed in 1952 and converted into an art gallery in 1972. In 1973, 16 acres at the northern end of the former park were taken for Orleans Park School. Between 2005 and 2008, architects Patel Taylor refurbished the buildings and site to incorporate an education centre and café. A further major restoration project from 2016 to 2018, costing £3.7 million and part-funded by a £1.8 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, saw the Octagon Room restored, facilities improved, and the upper floor extended. The gallery reopened in March 2018 after this 17-month project.

Orleans House Gallery holds the Richmond Borough Art Collection, which comprises art relating to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and neighbouring areas of London. The collection's strengths include local topographical views, portraiture connected to the house's history, and material associated with significant figures linked to the borough. The Burton Collection forms a notable component, containing artwork, personal effects, and photographs of the explorer Richard Francis Burton. The gallery also preserves paintings of Orleans House itself by artists including Arthur Vickers. In addition to its permanent holdings, the gallery maintains a programme of temporary exhibitions that have historically ranged from watercolours and sketches by Richard Dadd to contemporary shows such as the first major retrospective of Stephen Wiltshire's works in 2003, and Capability Now in 2016, which marked the 300th anniversary of the birth of landscape gardener Capability Brown. The gallery functions as the site of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames' arts service, with educational workshops for all ages using the converted stables and coach house as learning spaces.

Among the specific works in the collection, the portrait of James Johnston by Thomas Gibson holds particular significance as an representation of the villa's original owner. The gallery also preserves multiple painted views of Orleans House by Arthur Vickers and other artists, documenting the building's appearance before its partial demolition. The Burton Collection stands out as a distinctive holding, bringing together diverse material on Richard Francis Burton. The relocated painting of Queen Caroline, moved outside the Octagon Room during the 2016-2018 restoration, represents another key work tied to the site's royal connections. The gallery's exhibition history has included significant temporary presentations, such as watercolours and sketches by Richard Dadd and the first major retrospective of Stephen Wiltshire in 2003.

The gallery occupies the surviving structures of the original Palladian villa: the Grade I listed Octagon Room and its service wing, together with a converted stable block. The Octagon Room, designed by James Gibbs in 1720, is a baroque space originally created for entertaining Queen Caroline. The buildings sit within gardens that include woodland areas, with the Octagon Room available for civil ceremonies for up to 60 guests. The setting overlooks the River Thames, with lawns and surrounding woodlands providing a backdrop for events. Vehicle access is via Orleans Road only, with limited free parking within the grounds, though access can be restricted at high tides. The site also includes the Stables Café in the courtyard, situated within the converted stable buildings.

Orleans House Gallery is located on Riverside, Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and is managed by Richmond Arts Service. Entry is free, though donations are welcome. The gallery is easily reached from London and the south east by road, rail, and boat. By train, St Margarets, Twickenham, and Richmond stations are accessible with direct services from Waterloo, and the gallery is a short walk from St Margarets station. Bus routes 33, 490, H22, R68, and R70 serve the area from both Richmond and Twickenham. Limited free car parking is available within the grounds with access via Orleans Road; there is no vehicle access via Lebanon Park Road. Visitors are advised that car park access can be limited due to high tides. The gallery offers disabled access and toilets, baby changing facilities, and public toilets. Dogs are not accepted except guide dogs. The venue is approved for civil marriage ceremonies and wedding receptions, and can be hired for functions. Educational group visits and self-guided visits for schools can be booked in advance, with three themed trails designed by artist Abigail Hunt available for different key stages. The gallery also hosts festivals, family trails, workshops, and concerts throughout the year.