Danson House, Lonon

Originally called Danson Hill, the Palladian villa was designed by Sir Robert Taylor (who was also the architect of the Bank of England), and built 1764-67 for vice-chairman of the British East India Company, Sir John Boyd. The landscape was designed and laid out by Nathaniel Richmond, assistant to Capability Brown. At its centre is a beautiful 12 acre lake.

After Sir John died in 1800, his son demolished the imposing wings containing kitchens and stables, and built the present stable block. He then sold the estate in 1807 to a retired army captain John Johnston and later passed to his son Hugh. Hugh's daughter Sarah painted a number of watercolours of the interior in the 1860s which were later used in the restoration of the interior. Hugh Johnston sold Danson to railway engineer Alfred Bean in 1863 who was keen on transforming the estate into a residential suburb. Outlying areas were gradually developed but the central area of the estate remained in Bean's family after his death in 1890 until it was acquired by Bexley Urban District Council for £16,000 in 1924 on the death of his widow.

The park was opened to the public in 1925, while the house was used for civil defence purposes during World War Two.

When the house was acquired by English Heritage in 1995, it was in a badly run down state, having been uninhabited for over 70 years. It was painstakingly restored in a lengthy £4.5m project by Purcell Miller Tritton architects.

The house is currently used for public functions and is opened to the public on certain open days. The estate's stable block is now a public house, the Danson Stables.

Opening Times

Thursday 1st April - Sunday 31st October

The house is open to visitors on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. During June, July and August the house is also open on Tuesdays.

Opening times: 11am to 5pm: last entry at 4.15pm

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Ticket Prices

Adults £6
Concessions £5
Accompanied Children (in family groups) – FREE
A discount entry of £4.50 is available for English Heritage members and certain Welsh Heritage and Scottish Heritage members.

Essential carers are admitted free of charge.

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Disabled Facilities

If you have special requirments when visiting Danson House we advise that you telephone in advance to enable us to assist your visit: 020 8303 6699.

All rooms on the principal floor and bedroom level are wheelchair accessible. There is level access to the lower ground floor where the breakfast room, shop and lavatories are situated, and access by internal lift to the principal and bedroom floors.

The stairs down to the Victorian kitchen (limited opening – please telephone in advance to check) are steep and uneven – access maybe limited for those with mobility difficulties as there is no lift to this level at present.

There are wheelchair-accessible paths through the restored gardens.

A wheelchair is available to borrow whilst on-site. Please telephone 020 8303 6699 to pre-book.

Touch talks and tours of the house for visitors with visual impairments are available, although prebooking is essential. Please contact info@bexleyheritagetrust.org.uk or telephone 020 8303 6699 for further details.

Disabled toilets are available.

Visitors with disabilities are permitted to park on the gravel forcourt of the house – please telephone 020 8303 6699 in advance of your visit to arrange this.

Assistance dogs welcome.

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More Information

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