History & A Home: Photographing Holworth House
I’ve been fortunate in the 38-plus years I’ve been doing commercial photography to have met and captured some amazing people, including royalty, and photographed some incredible places that most don’t get to see. Someone once said the camera is like a passport to explore, and it certainly has been for me at times. But when it comes to property shoots, Holworth House is probably the highlight for me. Being a bit of a history buff, this place had everything I could ask for – and then some.
The Discovery
What started as a regular property shoot near Dorchester turned into something pretty special. This old house sits tucked away in the trees below the coast path in the little hamlet of Holworth, and it turns out it has quite a story to tell. It was actually a family retreat for Major John “Jack” Churchill – Winston Churchill’s younger brother – back in the 1930s.
The Chapels
What really caught my eye were the two chapels on the site. One of them dates back to the 1920s with this gorgeous interior – proper craftsmanship from that era. It was built by Dr. Linklater’s widow as a memorial when he died in 1926. The chapel sits right on the cliff edge overlooking that dramatic coastline – must be one of the most beautiful spots for quiet reflection you could imagine.
Documenting a Slice of Time
As I moved through the rooms with my camera, I kept thinking about the Churchill children running around these very spaces, or exploring the grounds that lead down to the coast.
This was such an enjoyable shoot – I felt less like I was photographing a property and more like I was documenting a slice of time. Being a bit of a history geek, this wasn’t just about getting great shots of the interiors. It was about capturing a place where real history happened. You could almost hear the echoes of family life from the 1930s in every room.
The Challenge of the Perfect Shot
I had to return to the property with Marcus from Eaves who was the appointed agent, a couple more times, but I wasn’t too disappointed. We really wanted to capture some aerial images showing the dramatic location, but unfortunately, although the weather was fine, it just wasn’t quite clear enough over the sea for what we needed.
When History Calls: Photographing The White House at Hampton Court
Sometimes a job comes along that makes you remember why you got into this game in the first place. The White House at Hampton Court was one of those.
The Deer Thing
Let’s start with the ridiculous bit. The back of this house opens directly onto Bushy Park. Not overlooks. Opens onto. French windows in the drawing room and dining room, and beyond them, over 320 red and fallow deer just wandering about like they own the place – which, to be fair, they’ve been doing since Henry VIII’s time.
I’ve shot a lot of properties over 20 years, and I’ve never had deer photobombing my shots before. It’s weirdly brilliant.
A Bit of History (But Not Too Much)
The house was originally built in 1700 for the royal plumber – George I’s plumber, to be exact
There’s something very British about a tradesman’s cottage being this impressive. Oak panelling, hand-painted details, parquet floors, the works.
One tenant was Edward Jesse, the bloke who opened Hampton Court Palace to the public back in 1838 So this house has literally been part of the palace story for over 300 years.
Shooting It
The technical challenge here wasn’t the usual “make smaller rooms feel spacious” stuff. It was about capturing all those period details without making it feel like a National Trust catalogue.
Natural light was the hero. Those French windows flood the reception rooms with light from the park. When you’ve got genuine architectural drama – the ceiling mouldings, the oak panelling, the hand-painted wardrobes – sometimes the best move is to get out of the way and let the building do the talking.
The courtyard garden has this stone relief showing The Battle of The Amazons, which is either incredibly cultured or slightly bonkers, depending on your view. There’s a roof terrace, a wine cellar dug in 1700, and views across Bushy Park that haven’t changed much since the Tudors were knocking about.
These are just a couple of examples of the exceptional properties I’ve had the privilege of photographing.
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Simon Plant Photographer Monks Yard Horton Manor Horton Cross Ilminster TA19 9PY