Celebrating the Women of
Strawberry Hill House

To mark International Women's Day 2021, Strawberry Hill House celebrates two key women who resided at the House. Horace Walpole's niece Anne Damer and Lady Waldegrave, both led fascinating lives, challenging the gender stereotypes of their day to make great strides in equality. Read more about their stories below, along with our latest online talks.

Lady Waldegrave
An Independent Women
Written by Claire Leighton, Outreach Manager

Lady Waldegrave remodelled Strawberry Hill in a successful bid to become the premier Liberal Party hostess of the 1860s and 70s. She created a home that was both dynastic and modern to make her guests feel welcome. The artist, John Everett Millais described her parties as 'proverbially enjoyable' where 'rank and talent met and mingled on equal terms'

Q&A on Anne Damer
With Dr Caroline Gonda

"Damer's art has been undervalued, partly because she's a woman and an aristocrat - both of these factors lead people to assume that she can't be serious about her work. I think there's also an element of reaction against Walpole's sometimes extravagant praise of her work, which means that people aren't looking properly at the art itself."

Online Partner Talk: The Female Artists, Actresses & Playwrights of Strawberry Hill Theatrics
Wednesday 16 March at 5pm

In association with London Art Week, this webinar, introduced and moderated by Emanuela Tarizzo (Gallery Director of Tomasso Brothers Fine Art) will explore the role of female artists, actresses, and playwrights involved with theatre at Strawberry Hill House.

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Online Talk: The Unexpected Jewish Past of Strawberry Hill House
Presented by Silvia Davoli
Wednesday 24 March at 6.30pm

In this online talk, curator Silvia Davoli will discuss our new online exhibition 'The Unexpected Jewish Past of Strawberry Hill House', followed by an in conversation with Tom Stammers, Associate Professor in Modern European Cultural History, University of Durham and Nino Strachey, Writer and Historian.

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In light of our recent House closure, we are in need of your support more than ever. If you would consider making a donation, no matter how small, it would make a big difference to the future of Strawberry Hill. Thank you.

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