Samuel Fortrey bought the house which had been built by Sir Hugh Portman, possibly on the site of the mansion built by the Suffolks when they settled here at the end of the 15th century. Fortrey rebuilt Portman's house as the Dutch House in 1631. Its name derives from the style which was then fashionable. It may also have been favoured by Fortrey because of his Flemish descent. His entire upbringing had been that of an Englishman but he was born on the boat in the English Channel by which his family were escaping the Spanish Inquisition. The house has only been altered in some minor detail since 1631. If the attribution of the siting of this house is correct then the cellars may be the only survival in Kew of the original creation of great houses here in the time of the first of the Tudors. The house was taken by Sir Richard Levett in 1697. Levett was Lord Mayor of London in 1700. It was bought from him by Princess Caroline, consort of George, Prince of Wales (later George II), who was extending the neighbouring Ormonde / Richmond Lodge estate. It was then the nursery for her children and subsequently for her grandchild, the future George III, and his children.

O/S Co-ords:1840.7737
Source(s):

Kew Past