London and Less Known Tourist Sites
Homes of Benjamin Franklin, Linley Sambourne, Thomas Carlyle
Oct 17, 2009
Of the many attractions London offers, some sizably secret sites often go unseen, but these three London locations each offer something special.
Benjamin Franklin House
Despite the Revolutionary War, at least for the sake of tourism, England seems to still honor the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.
A statue stands of George Washington and a commemorative plaque marks the house formerly inhabited by John and Abigail Adams during Adams’ years as ambassador to the court of St. James.
And hidden away on Craven Street in London is the house where Benjamin Franklin lived and worked for close to twenty years.
The only fully surviving home of Franklin only opened as a museum in 2006, and in retains a number of original features.
The house is open to the public between 12:00pm and 5:00pm Wednesday through Sunday, and architectural tours of the house are given every Monday.
Linley Sambourne House
18 Stafford Terrace in the Holland Park area of London was the home of the nineteenth century Punch cartoonist, Edward Linley Sambourne.
The Kensington house has remained in the family since its purchase in 1874, and it has been preserved as an 1800s residence.
The tour begins with a contextual historical video narrated by Linley Sambourne’s descendant, the photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones, former husband of the deceased Princess Margaret.
Another Sambourne descendant is Oliver Messel, the famed set designer, and visitors can view a family tree and historical time-line as orientation for the tour.
Visitors proceed to the front door where they are met by the lady of the house, Marion Sambourne, who explains to her guests the daily routine of the household and graciously tours her visitors through each room of the house, including her husband’s studio.
These costume tours are given every Saturday and Sunday, and conventional tours are every Wednesday.
Thomas Carlyle and his London House
Operated by the National Trust, Carlyle House in Chelsea is the former marital home of the Victorian Scottish satirical and historical writer, Thomas Carlyle and his wife Jane.
Although this house is not as fully furnished as that of Linley Sambourne, the furnishings are authentic, and have some interesting stories to tell.
Carlyle was a friend to many of the famed artists of the Victorian era, such as Charles Dickens, and visitors even view a piano once played by Chopin.
American Founding Father to Victorian Punch Cartoonist
Ben Franklin, Edward Linley sambourne, and Thomas carlyle were three very different people, and their different personalities are exhibited in the history and tours of their former homes in London.
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