• Camden Park Rd, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5HJ, United Kingdom
Home / History / Architecture / Oval Room

The Oval Room

Of all the rooms in the house the Oval Room has changed its function the most.

Oval Room murals

A short video by Mikael Hasler-Fry

When added in the 1760s this room was Lord Camden’s main entrance hall, but alterations in the early 1800s by Thompson Bonar converted it into a library. The ladder back shelving is still evident behind the mirrors. The Imperial residents used it as a card room in the 1870s and today it is still a popular spot with bridge players.

Georgian extension plans

The house had two entrances.

Houe plans for the Georgian expansion in the 1760's

This illustrates George Dance’s plan for the huge Georgian extensions undertaken in the 1760’s for Lord Camden.

Here the Oval Room, without its oval shape, is the main entrance for the house, with a sweeping staircase where the murals are today.  It was conveniently located next to the main drawing room.

Sotheby’s in 1979 described the paintings either side if the fireplace in the Oval Room as ‘Dutch School, 18th Century' – a set of four wall panels, depicting canal and coastal scenes with elegant figures and rustics, oil on canvas.

Oval Room murals

Oval Room murals 4

Oval Room Musrals 1

Oval Room murals 3

The four paintings are attributed to Jacobus Jansen (born 1729) or his son Johannes Christian Jansen (born 1763). Father and son specialised in painting landscapes and cattle. Documentation exists, recording that at least one of the paintings is signed J.Jansen and dated, but no signature is evident today. Sadly we fear the signature was lost during cleaning.

Three of the paintings are river views and one, with a lighthouse, is a sea view. This and other structural evidence seems to indicate that the paintings may have formed different mural type pictures at some time and that they have been cut down to fit the space available.

Souhaiteriez-vous lire un article sur la piece Ovale en français ?

Pièce Ovale

  • Cette pièce a changé le plus souvent son usage. Avant 1805 elle servait d’entrée principale à la maison avec un escalier en colimaçon où se trouvent les peintures murales actuelles.
  • En 1805, Thomson Bonar acheta Camden Place et, travaillant avec l’architecte George Dance, transforma le hall d’entrée de Lord Camden en une bibliothèque et lui donna sa forme ovale caractéristique. Les étagères de bibliothèque sont encore visibles derrière les peintures murales.
  • La transformation finale de cette pièce fut lorsque Nathaniel Strode transforma la maison en style français dans les années 1860. La pièce devint un salon, souvent utilisé par les résidents royaux comme salle de jeux de cartes.  La cheminée a explosé une nuit quand Napoléon III a allumé un feu (il avait toujours froid).
  • Les étagères de la bibliothèque étaient recouvertes de quatre grandes peintures murales hollandaises du XVII -ème siècle. Les peintures sont attribuées à Jacobus Jansen ou son fils, Johannes Jansen, tous les deux nés au 18eme siècle.

Explore the History

Discover Camden Place’s unique history through the people and events that shaped its story that spans more than 400 years.

The Architecture of Camden Place

Hidden in plain sight, learn more about the architectural secrets of this unique historic house.

Explore

The People of Camden Place

Murderers, royalty and spies? Learn more about the people who left their mark on Camden Place.

Explore

Historic Events

Discover the events that have helped shaped Camden Place, from royal visits to world wars.

Explore

Painting of Camden Place in autumn