London the Hidden City: Sir John Soane's Museum

by Cybil Solyn

April 2002

One of the most surprising finds I made in my first year in London was the Sir John Soane's Museum. I consider it a real hidden treasure because not only does it have some of the most creative and innovative architecture of the Regency era, but housed within its walls are masterpieces of Regency art, and a large collection of antiques and oddities.

Soane was one of the Regencies leading architects. He was responsible for designing buildings such as The Bank of England and many sections of Regent Street. When he was appointed as Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy in 1806 Soane proposed opening his house for the use of the Royal Academy students. He then began arranging his collection. Books, casts, paintings, and models were put in order so students might have the benefit of easy access to them, and by 1827 the Soane's collection was being referred to as an 'Academy of Architecture'.

The house and entire collection was left to the nation by Soane upon his death in 1837 with the stipulation that nothing should be altered, and from the looks of it nothing really has. It is still the same eclectic gathering of whimsical and often instructional objects that it was in 1837.

As you walk through the narrow hallways you will be amazed at not only the vast array of beautiful things surrounding you, but at the architectural feats of the house itself! Skylights, windows, walls that pull out to reveal precious paintings by known artists such as Hogarth and Turner; mirrors that enlarge a room, hidden alcoves, walls that aren't walls but optical illusions created by the cleaver use of mirrors and lighting. From the Regency era furniture to the Egyptian toomb, the Soane's Museum is a place of wonder.

Sir John Soane's Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday inclusive from 10-5. Also on the first Tuesday evening of each month, 6-9 pm parts of the Museum are lit with candles, and special events often take place (I went to a Regency tea drinking service that was just fantastic!). There is a Museum tour each Saturday at 2.30pm and tickets are on sale starting at 2.00pm. The cost is £3.

www.soane.org