The house and estate were owned by the Barker family certainly from the 1st half of the 16th century until sold (in 1745) to Henry Baron Alford, Viscount of Boston and Earl of Grantham who after moving here built Boston House in Chiswick Square. Later that century it was the home of Humphry Morice who was one of Horace Walpole's friends and dinner hosts but more unusually gave home to many stray dogs and horses. On his death in 1790 he required in his will that his personal mount was to have the use of two rooms in the house for the remainder of its life which was for another 25 years. The Duke of Devonshire, who then owned Chiswick House, bought it in 1861 and removed the top floor but the remaining building still looks very fine in photographs from the 1920's. At that date it was owned by Colonel R.W. Shipway who was the generous benefactor responsible for the restoration of Hogarth's House, nearby, which he then presented to the local authority.

O/S Co-ords:2018.7718
Source(s):

Chiswick