Apsley House, a Grade I listed building, is the London townhouse of the Dukes of Wellington.
Once known as 'Number 1 London', this Georgian building was the London home of the first Duke of Wellington and has changed very little since his day.
It stands at Hyde Park across from the Wellington Arch, which was built as an original entrance to Buckingham Palace and became a victory arch for Wellington's defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wellington-arch/
Apsley House was the London home of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, was one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century.
Wellington's victory over Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo in June 1815 made him the most celebrated man in Europe.
Visitors to Apsley House get a genuine feel for how the house was during the first Duke's time.
They can also view the Wellington Collection formed by the 'Spanish gift' of paintings rescued from the battlefield at Vitoria, Spain, in June 1813 at the end of the Peninsular Wars.
The retreating Joseph Bonaparte had taken over 200 paintings from the Spanish Royal Palaces but was unable to escape with them all.
Wellington's men saved most of the paintings, amongst them works by Velázquez, Titian, Rubens and Brueghel.
When most of the paintings had been identified and Wellington was informed that they had come from Spain he wrote to the restored King Ferdinand VII and offered them back.
Wellington was told that the King was 'touched by your delicacy' and he 'did not want to deprive Wellington of that which has come into your possession by means as just as they are honourable'.
Today 82 paintings from the Spanish Royal Collection are on display to the public in Apsley House.
In addition, when Wellington purchased Apsley House, he started to collect paintings that appealed to him and also commissioned portraits of his contemporaries.
Soldierly Splendour
Five of Wellington's military dress uniforms are also on display in the Striped Drawing Room.
From May 2024, a new display at Apsley will tell the story of the life and legacy of the 1st Duke of Wellington, through objects that belonged to him and his family.
The exhibition will embrace Wellington's private and professional life, featuring artifacts from the Battle of Waterloo as well as seeing an original plaster death mask and bronze cast of Wellington's crossed hands.