This house on Curzon Street is the personal residence of James and Cordelia Herondale.
Description[]
The townhouse has four stories and the exterior is white in color. The entryway is wallpapered with bird patterns and passiflora in emerald green and is lined with ornate brass sconces. There is a fireplace in the dining room, as well as large, tall windows that overlook Curzon Street. A huge chandelier and furniture made of rosewood cover most of the space while thick carpets cover the floor. Four Persian paintings of minarets adorn the wall. They were made of shades of scarlet, cobalt and gold and above the various images was nastaliq calligraphy. The drawing room is papered with blue and white wallpaper and has a piano in the middle of the room. Downstairs, a small door in the wall leads to the garden where rose trellises hung.
The study is a massive place furnished with comfortable arrangements, including a Knole sofa. The walls are lined with several columns of bookshelves, filled with books on various subjects, including books on naturalism, seafaring, "The Wonders of Britain", and a few Baedekers. The latest copy of the Oxford dictionary is on display here, though only through the letter K. There is damask upholstery, matching the curtains, and windows that face the street. A writing desk from the Institute is placed in one corner and the pride of the study is a massive chess set in the middle of the room. The board is made up of polished ebony and mother-of-pearl, while the pieces are carved of ivory; half stained black and half red. There is a brass mantel clock and above the hearth is a painting of the Lady of Shalott, sitting in a boat with flowing hair. At last, there is a low table by the sofa.
The bedchambers are on the second floor. A short corridor lined with scones leads to a blue-painted room—belonging to Cordelia—which faces the back garden. Twin lamps are placed on either side of the bed. The headboard has the symbol of the Carstairs family carved in it. There is a quilted velvet coverlet, silk canopy, and jacquard curtains in jewel tones of amethyst and emerald. The thick Kerman carpet on the floor is of the same colors. There are gilded brass hooks near the bed for Cortana to hang on, and a window seat big enough for two. The seat is flanked by two bookshelves.
A smaller door leads to a modern bathroom and another emerald door there connects to James's bedroom. The other bedroom is furnished in shades of warm ochre and red and a dark crimson carpet covers the floor. The walls here are lined with bookshelves too and a wide window covers one side of the room's wall.
The training room is on the upper floor, small yet comfortable with high ceilings to practice.[1]
History[]
This house was a wedding present from Will Herondale and his wife, Tessa Gray, to their son, James, and new daughter-in-law, Cordelia; along with a carriage and their horse Xanthos. Risa was sent by Sona Carstairs temporarily to help her daughter ease into the atmosphere. The house's staff consisted of Effie—hired by Risa from the Pouncebys—two footmen, and a second maid who would be there occasionally to do the rough. The house had been picked out and decorated completely by James as a surprise for Cordelia.
On their very first night, the couple established a rule: they would play a game in the study every evening, and whoever lost owed an answer to the winner. With time, they fell into a routine of spending evenings in the study. This is also how Cordelia got to know more about James and vice versa. The house was occasionally frequented by the rest of the Merry Thieves, as well as Will, Tessa, Lucie and Anna.[1]
As of 2014, though it still belongs to the Herondale family, the house was given to the National Trust and is open to the public as a historical building.[2]
Known residents[]
|
Staff: |
Known guests: |
Trivia[]
- One of the four Persian paintings hanging in the dining room was painted by Rumi and stated the verse "The wound is the place where the light enters you." It is one of Cordelia's favorite quotes.[1]
- The Herondale family London town house Jace Herondale mentions to Kit Herondale in Lord of Shadows refers to this house.[3]
- Curzon Street was chosen for James and Cordelia's home because Cassandra Clare's grandfather, Max Rosenberg, used to live there.[4]