Staff will trace Lord Lauderdale’s steps on the journey he may have taken to visit his mistress before Lauderdale House opens once more

Lauderdale House will gradually re-open from next week for classes and events before finally being completely open to the public for Christmas.

In mid to late October the long and upper gallery will open.

And by mid to late November the new conservatory and courtyard along with the cafe will open - as well as a new entrance, lift and toilets.

Supporters have so far raised an impressive £2.2 million to rebuild the historic house and to fund their new arts and heritage education programme for children and young people.

To raise the final £300,000, board members Nick Peacey and Peter Barber OBE, Katherine Ives, Lauderdale House director, and Alice Watson, heritage and education manager, will be doing a sponsored walk on October 2.

They will be walking from Lauderdale to Ham House near Richmond, following the route that Lord Lauderdale would have taken in the 1670s to meet up with his new love Elizabeth Tollemache, of Ham House, who would soon become the second Lady Lauderdale.

Chair Nick Peacey said: “This is a special time for Lauderdale House, and a pretty special time for me as well.

“I have been a trustee of the House since the 1970s and we are about to re-open the House after a spectacular rebuild that will show off the extraordinary heritage which dates back to 1582 and ensure the House will continue as a superb resource for the North London community for years to come.”

– To sponsor the walk, visit: http://lauderdalehouse.org.uk/page.asp?ID=2371&PID=8