Drawing of a window and brickwork at Brooke House, Hackney, pen drawing by an unknown artist, 17th century

Drawing of the window and brick work at Brooke House, Hackney.

Given by the Hon. Arthur Villiers

Brooke House (formerly known as King's Place) was built in the late 14th century. It was once owned by King Henry VIII, and in 1536/7 was the setting for Henry's reconciliation with his daughter Mary. It was also owned by Thomas Cromwell, Ralph Sadler and Henry Carey, nephew of Anne Boleyn, and in the 17th century passed to the Greville family (the Barons Brooke) who renamed it Brooke House. It became a private mental asylum in 1759, and was demolished by Hackney Council in the 1950s after suffering bomb damage in World War 2.

This object was part of the John Edmund Gardner collection of topographical prints and drawings of London. After Gardner's death the collection passed to his son Edmund Thomas, but was sold to Edward Coates MP in 1910. The collection was sold again in 1923 after Coates' death, and was split between various institutions and private collectors. The portion connected with Hoxton, Homerton, Hackney and Bethnal Green was bought by the Hon. Arthur Villiers and donated to the Bethnal Green Museum.

E.4692-1923