Spade House

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.

Spade House, c. 1899

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. 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.

Media related to Spade House at Wikimedia Commons

51°4′29″N 1°9′8.5″E


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