Surrounded by residential buildings, one can still discern the grandeur of the past from the white walls, vermilion doors and windows, high eaves, and pillars on the porch. It is said that this 239.4 square meter building, constructed in 1878 when Leighton Stuart’s father, Stuart, came to Hangzhou to preach, is one of the oldest missionary residences in Hangzhou. At the age of two, Leighton Stuart moved to this place. Passing through the porch and entering the former residence, the spacious hall with its dark red floor exudes a sense of historical depth.
Upon entering the first living room on the left side of the first floor, a nearly 1.5-meter-tall gray fireplace on the opposite wall and the large oil painting hanging above it are particularly striking. On the mantel, there is a silver candlestick and an antique clock. On both sides of the fireplace, several sets of reddish-brown sofas are placed against the wall. The half-burned candle ends and the ticking clock hands evoke a faint touch of Leighton Stuart playing here in his childhood.
To restore the original appearance of Leighton Stuart’s life at that time, the museum staff almost went through all the pictures and documentary materials about the residence that can be found today. During the restoration, they replicated every piece of furniture according to the typical layout of a missionary family at the time. From the tables and chairs in the dining room to the beds and cabinets in the bedroom, every detail is pursued to perfection.The Leighton Stuart Residence currently has four rooms on its first floor open to the public. Adjacent to the main entrance on the right is a study room. The two rooms near the back door have been arranged as a dining room and a bedroom. Within these four open rooms, the walls are adorned with a collection of texts and images that document Leighton Stuart’s early life in Hangzhou, the establishment of Yanjing University in Beijing, and some rare old photographs from his tenure as an ambassador in China. The site is accessible year-round, with operating hours from 08:30 to 16:30.
