The Geffrye Museum of the Home

The Geffrye Museum is is devoted to the history of the home, showing how homes and gardens reflect changes in society, behaviour, style and taste over the past 400 years. Founded in 1914, this is a museum specialising in the history of the English domestic interior. Named after Sir Robert Geffrye, former Lord Mayor of London and Master of the Ironmongers’ Company, it is located on Kingsland Road in London. The main body of the museum is housed in the Grade I-listed almshouses of the Ironmongers’ Company, built in 1714 at the bequest of Geffrye.

Last weekend I took a visit to see what there was on offer. The exterior is really quite breathtaking.

I really liked this beautiful View of the Geffrye Museum in autumn, signed John Piper in 1984. It was a similar kind of windy autumnal day when I was there too.

Some characterful details on the chair backs caught my eye.

This painting of the  ‘ rather scary large headed children ‘ was actually painted by William Holman Hunt around 1846. I can’t help but wonder if he was asked to exaggerate the size of the infants heads to suggest that they come from a clever family ? In most of his other work, I believe he painted people with their heads in proportion to their bodies lol.

In the sunny reading room, the passage looks onto the herb gardens at the rear of the buildings and there’s a slightly bizarre mural on the wall with quirky characters. Perhaps the ducks with parasols were added to offer some painted sunshine to the lives of the elderly folk who lived there.

Some great paintings on display. It’s interesting how the lines of the tiles on the floor in this watercolour, lead you into the image and off into the dining room beyond. Here’s a selection of some of the rooms you can view too.

There’s a very smart cafe-restaurant and gift shop.

No prizes for guessing which was my favourite time period in terms of decoration and furniture, I could live here lol

Outside there is a wonderfully stocked herb garden, it’s so fragrant we spent 20 minutes just rubbing the leaves between our fingers and saying “Ooo have you smelt this one ! ” :  ) You can see the outside of the reading room here too.

Even on a cold autumnal day there was still colour in the leaves of this lovely garden.

More local graffiti and eye catching posters.

Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.  Closed on Monday.  Free entry. 

Well worth a look if you’re in London with a half day to spare.