Chiswick's Unique Voysey House Has Been Restored

M@
By M@

Last Updated 08 May 2024

Chiswick's Unique Voysey House Has Been Restored
Voysey House in Chiswick
Image: Historic England

This distinctive building in Chiswick is back to its full glory.

It's a remarkable story. The Sanderson Wallpaper firm moved into this unique Chiswick factory in 1902, employing over 1,000 local staff. They moved on after a fire in 1928 but now, almost 100 years later, they're back.

Voysey House, a landmark beside Chiswick High Street, was concocted by arts-and-crafts designer CFA Voysey, more noted for his domestic architecture. The Chiswick factory is his only building of this type, and quite unlike anything else in London.

Voysey House from the beer garden of a pub
Well, it would be wrong NOT to admire it from the neighbouring beer garden

Sanderson's unlikely homecoming is made possible after significant restoration of the Grade II*-listed building. Working with Historic England and Hounslow Council, owners Dorrington brought the building up to 21st century environmental standards without harming the overall appearance of the building.

Voysey House 2014 and 2024
Voysey House in 2014 (left) and 2024 (right). Note the change in window frame. Both images: Matt Brown

From the outside, the building once again looks as it did when first built. Non-original windows have been replaced with better replicas of Voysey's design, painted to match the original colour scheme. Ultra-thin double glazing ensures the buildings huge windows are more energy efficient.

For a building whose origins were in wallpaper, the restored Voysey House has a spectacular lack of external wall.