575 Wandsworth Road
Georgian terrace house in Lambeth whose rooms were carved with fretwork by poet Khadambi Asalache, shown on pre-booked National Trust tours.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
575 Wandsworth Road is an early nineteenth-century terraced house in Lambeth that Kenyan-born poet, novelist and civil servant Khadambi Asalache (1935-2006) turned into a work of art. He bought the house in 1981 while working at the Treasury and from 1986 spent about twenty years decorating it.
He began by fixing pine floorboards to a damp basement wall to hide the stains. He went on to cover almost every wall, ceiling and door with fretwork patterns and motifs that he cut by hand from reclaimed pine doors and floorboards found in skips. The house also holds his painted decoration on walls, doors and floors, and his hand-made fretwork furniture.
The National Trust acquired the house in 2010 because of these interiors, and it opened to visitors in 2013. The rooms are shown as Asalache left them, with arranged collections of pressed-glass inkwells, pink and copper lustreware, postcards, illustrations of African landscapes and his typewriter.
Because the house is small and fragile, visits are by guided tour for no more than six people at a time and must be booked in advance. Visitors take off their outdoor shoes to protect the painted floors, and photography inside is not allowed.
Highlights
- Hand-carved fretwork across walls, ceilings and doors
- Home of poet and novelist Khadambi Asalache
- Fretwork furniture and arranged collections of lustreware and inkwells
- Small guided tours limited to six people
Permanent exhibition
- Khadambi Asalache's fretwork house – Rooms covered with hand-carved fretwork, painted decoration and handmade furniture, shown as the poet left them.
- Founded
- 2013
- Operated by
- National Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £13 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £6.50free up to age 4 · Ages 5 to 17; under 5s free. |
| Families | £32.502 adults and up to 3 children. |
Prices are without Gift Aid; with Gift Aid the tickets cost £14.30 (adult), £7.20 (child) and £35.80 (family). Members are free but must also book because each tour is limited to six people. Payment on site is by card or contactless only.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The house is a small terrace with narrow corridors and steps or uneven floors, and it has an induction loop. Visitors with particular access needs are asked to email in advance. Only assistance dogs are allowed. There are no toilets on site.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £32.50 · 2 adults and up to 3 children. |
Child tickets are sold for ages 5 to 17, and tours are limited to six people.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Wandsworth Road station
Wandsworth Road station on the Overground, one stop from Clapham Junction, is a few minutes away. Buses 87, 77 and 452 stop near the house (Westbury Street or St Rule Street stops). Nine Elms station on the Northern line is a 15 to 20 minute walk.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There is no parking at the property, only metered parking in nearby roads such as St Rule Street.
The house has no visible door number, so visitors may need to count along the terrace. Wandsworth Road is a busy main road.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop: not available
- Coat check
There are no toilets, catering or shop on site. Bags and coats are stored securely at the start of the tour. A guidebook can be bought with the ticket.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Photography | Photography is not allowed inside the house. |
| Good to know | Tours are limited to six people and begin with a talk around the dining table. Visitors take off outdoor shoes and are asked to wear thick gripped socks or bring soft-soled slippers. |
