This place is such a gem. English Heritage never charge for entry, and it looks as though the old "wedding cake" has been given a good sprucing up.



































One of Britain's most historic stately homes is set to reopen to the public after around Ł5m worth of renovations which has restored Kenwood House to its former beauty.


Eight rooms in the property have been represented and reinterpreted to reference different periods in the building's history.

They have been redecorated to reference the period of time during the 18th century when the house was bought by William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield.

He commissioned the renown architect Robert Adam to remodel it from 1764–1779.

After a lengthy renovation, The Adam rooms at the Hampstead Heath home have been represented to show as accurately as possibly the original interior.

According to Heritage England, who carried out the work, visitors will be encouraged to relax and enjoy the new interiors, take in the view and discover the stories of Kenwood.

The rooms displaying the Iveagh Bequest, referencing the time when the house was donated to the nation by Lord Iveagh a member of the Guinness brewing family, have been presented to suggest an 18th-century gentleman's lifestyle, in keeping with the former owner's original wishes.

Kenwood is known for its fascinating social and political history, with links to law reform, slavery, brewing and philanthropy told through the lives of the people who lived and worked there.

The newly refurbished rooms now feature family trails, an interactive dolls house, original letters and architectural designs.

Also in situ are priceless collection of artworks by Rembrandt, Van Dyke and Gainsborough which were originally owned by Lord Iveagh.

They have spent nearly a year on the road as the Heath’s famous stately home closed its doors for the restoration.

The house, dating from the 1600s, was closed from the start of April while vital roof repairs are done and the landmark cream facade is stripped down and repaired.

The art collection will traveled to three galleries in America in a year-long tour called the Art of Kenwood in London.

Paul Griffiths who oversaw the work as English Heritage’s area manager for historic properties in and around London said: 'This really is [architect Robert] Adam’s masterpiece '

'It is one of the great stately homes of England. The library is simply incredible and visitors come from all over the world to see it.'

As well as representing the rooms, Mr Griffith’s team has also had to track the flues of 100 chimneys which has to repointed and swept.

The work, which took the best part of a year is now drawing to a close with a reopening date set for Thursday, November 28.

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