Spade House, c. 1899

Spade House was the home of the science fiction writer H. G. Wells from 1901 to 1909. It is a large mansion overlooking Sandgate, near Folkestone, in southeast England.

History

Wells at Spade House, 1907.

The house was designed by C. F. A. Voysey, and extended in 1903.[1] Voysey included a signature heart shape on the door of every home he designed, but Wells rejected this in favour of a spade.[2] Wells's two sons were born here, and while living at Spade House Wells wrote books including Kipps, Tono-Bungay and Ann Veronica.[3]

The house has been Grade II* listed on the National Heritage List for England since March 1975.[4] It is now occupied by the "Wells House" nursing home.[3] At the entrance is an ornate nameplate and a blue plaque from the Sandgate Society, commemorating the link to Wells.[5]

References

  1. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Newman, John (2013). "Spade House, Sandgate, Kent". voyseysociety.org. The C. F. A. Voysey Society. Retrieved 13 March 2021. Extract from Kent: North & East
  2. ^ Glazzard, Andrew (17 September 2013). "Edwardian Encounters: Spade House". edwardianculture.com. Edwardian Culture Network. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b Williams, Sam (12 November 2020). "War of the Worlds author HG Wells and his love for Sandgate, near Folkestone". Kent Online. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  4. ^ Historic England, "Spade House (1061164)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 14 October 2017
  5. ^ "House of H. G. Wells". atlasobscura.com. Atlas Obscura. 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.

External links

Media related to Spade House at Wikimedia Commons

51°4′29″N 1°9′8.5″E / 51.07472°N 1.152361°E / 51.07472; 1.152361


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