Plaque Wording:
Hurst House was known originally as the Naked Beauty, often attributed to a statue which stood in front of the house. Henry Raine (1679 - 1738) built this elegant brick villa between 1711 and 1714 as a rural retreat from his brewery in Wapping. The house was built during the reign of Queen Anne in the English Baroque style of .
In 1719 Henry Raine became the principal benefactor of a charity school in Wapping for 50 boys and 50 girls, which later became the Raine Foundation School. The house was lived in by wealthy city merchants until the late 19th century when it became Woodford House School. Before the First Wold War the villa became a private residence again and was damaged by fire in 1936 when the roof and upper storeys were rebuilt. Hurst House is listed by English Heritage as Grade II*.
In 1719 Henry Raine became the principal benefactor of a charity school in Wapping for 50 boys and 50 girls, which later became the Raine Foundation School. The house was lived in by wealthy city merchants until the late 19th century when it became Woodford House School. Before the First Wold War the villa became a private residence again and was damaged by fire in 1936 when the roof and upper storeys were rebuilt. Hurst House is listed by English Heritage as Grade II*.