The vanished studio-house of painter Hubert von Herkomer, Lululaund was a Romanesque Revival masterwork designed from an American sketch and demolished nearly a century ago—yet its influence endures.
At a glance
Lululaund was the residence and working studio of Bavarian-born British artist Hubert von Herkomer, built in the 1880s and early 1890s on Melbourne Road in Bushey, Hertfordshire. The house stood for only forty-five years before demolition in 1939.
History
Hubert von Herkomer commissioned the design around 1886, with construction completed by 1894. The house served both as his domestic residence and as a creative workshop. Though it was demolished in 1939, its brief existence left a lasting mark on English architectural circles.
What you see
The exterior design originated from a sketch by American architect Henry Hobson Richardson, making Lululaund the sole example of Richardson’s architectural work built in Europe. The house exemplified Romanesque Revival style, characterized by rounded arches and robust masonry forms typical of that tradition.
Cultural significance
Lululaund influenced the subsequent work of prominent English architect Charles Harrison Townsend, demonstrating how even a short-lived building could shape architectural thinking of its era. Its aesthetic and spatial innovations resonated beyond Herkomer’s own practice, making it significant in late Victorian architectural history.
Key facts
- Country: United Kingdom
- City: Bushey, Hertfordshire
- Designed: c. 1886; completed 1894
- Demolished: 1939
- Coordinates: 51.64406667, -0.35903889
- Style: Romanesque Revival
- Owner/Resident: Hubert von Herkomer
- Design influenced by: Henry Hobson Richardson (American architect)
Practical information & getting there
Lululaund no longer exists; the site on Melbourne Road in Bushey is now occupied by later development. Bushey remains accessible by rail and road from London, and the town retains other heritage buildings from the Victorian era. Researchers and heritage enthusiasts may consult archival records and architectural histories for documentation of the original building.
Sources & resources
- Lululaund – Wikipedia
- Cultural Heritage Online
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