title: Spade House
text: # Spade House
  
  Spade House was the home of the science fiction writer H. G. Wells from 1901 to 1909. It is a large mansion overlooking Sandgate, near Folkestone, in southeast England.
  
  ## History
  
  The house was designed by C. F. A. Voysey, and extended in 1903. Voysey included a signature heart shape on the door of every home he designed, but Wells rejected this in favour of a spade. Wells's two sons were born here, and while living at Spade House Wells wrote books including Kipps, Tono-Bungay and Ann Veronica.
  
  The house has been Grade II* listed on the National Heritage List for England since March 1975. It is now occupied by the "Wells House" nursing home. At the entrance is an ornate nameplate and a blue plaque from the Sandgate Society, commemorating the link to Wells.
  
  