Wellington boots
14 Nov 07, 10:16
Above expectations
Aspley House - often referred to as No. 1 London - is the house of the Duke of Wellington, and you can indeed see his boots there.
It is one of those places that you tend to neglect as a Londoner, I know I'd had it in the back of my mind to visit for many years, but it was the free entrance for London's Open House that finally sucked me in, and I was rather pleased I had.
What you can expect is a glimpse into a life gone by - the days when an individual of standing could have and indeed would have and would be expected to set up house in such an establishment. That, together with an awesome collection of paintings, and artefacts amassed by Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington.
Most curious is the giant nude statue in the stairwell -- which is of Napoleon. I still can't quite get my mind around that.
The contents of the house are largely the possessions of the Duke (whose descendants still live in private chambers there) and it shows. There is a connection between artefacts that is lacking in a museum collection.
Entrance is around £5, and I'd say that was fair value.
