The Wick

The Wick is a Grade I listed Georgian house[1] in Richmond, Greater London, located at the corner of Nightingale Lane and Richmond Hill in Surrey. The house, designed in 1775 by architect Robert Mylne for Lady St. Aubyn, became the family home of actor Sir John Mills,[2] who sold it to Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones in 1971. Since 1996 it has been owned by Pete Townshend of The Who.

Not to be confused with Wick House, Richmond Hill.

The Wick
The Wick on Richmond Hill
Location within London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
General information
TypeResidential
Architectural styleGeorgian
LocationRichmond upon Thames, London, England
Coordinates51°27′06″N 0°17′53″W
Completed1775
Technical details
Structural systemBrick and stone
Floor count4
Design and construction
ArchitectRobert Mylne
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameThe Wick and Wick Cottage
Designated10 January 1950
Reference no.1250041

Description

The Georgian-style house, built of plum brick and stone, overlooks the River Thames and is near Richmond Park, the largest urban park in the United Kingdom. It was designed by architect Robert Mylne in 1775 on the site of the Bull's Head Tavern for Lady St. Aubyn, and includes oval dining and drawing rooms, three storeys and a basement with modillion cornice and balustrading above. The porch is built with entablature and Tower of the Winds piers with a fanlight above, and a line of medallions embellishes the front of the house. It faces Richmond Hill and features a garden wall that borders Nightingale Lane, with a coach house in the garden. The back of the house features bow windows that overlook the river.

The Wick and the adjoining cottage, Wick Cottage, are listed as Grade I structures by Historic England.[1]

History

Richmond Hill was part of the Royal Manor of Richmond since Domesday. Richmond Park was enclosed by King Charles I around 1635. The countryside was mostly agricultural land in the early 18th century, but Terrace Walk was laid out at the top of Richmond Hill in the later 18th century, followed by construction of a number of fine homes including The Wick on the hill.[3]

The sound of the wind around the house reportedly inspired Mary Hayley Bell, actress, writer and wife of Sir John Mills, to write the novel Whistle Down The Wind which was made into both a film and, later, an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.[4]

Ronnie Wood bought the home in 1971 but did not have enough money to purchase the adjacent cottage as well; Wood persuaded Ronnie Lane to buy the cottage.[5] The guitarist of the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards, reportedly lived in the coach house for several months during 1973–74 when Ronnie Wood owned the home. When Wood first bought the house, his fellow Faces bandmate Ronnie Lane also lived there right up until his departure from that group in June 1973. Wood recorded his first two solo albums, I've Got My Own Album to Do and Now Look, released in 1974 and 1975 respectively, in a studio he built in the basement of the house. The Rolling Stones song, "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)," also released in 1974, was written at the house, emerging out of a jam between Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, David Bowie, and Mick Jagger. Writer and musician Nikki Sudden was working on a history of The Wick before he died suddenly in 2006.

Pete Townshend purchased the property from Ronnie Wood in 1996.[6]

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References
  1. Historic England (10 January 1950). "The Wick and Wick Cottage (1250041)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  2. Thorpe, Vanessa; Bright, Martin (12 January 2003). "I want to clear my name, says Who star". The Observer. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  3. "Richmond Hill Conservation Area 5" (PDF). London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  4. Helliker, Adam (29 August 2010). "Pete Townshend Can't Bear the Breeze". Daily Express. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  5. Wood, Ronnie (2008). Ronnie. ISBN 9780330445047.
  6. Bonner, Michael (24 June 2015). "An interview with Pete Townshend: "I might retire… from making money…"". Uncut. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
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