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Originally built for Richard Martin (Lord Mayor of London) in 1582 with a timber frame. In the early 17th Century it was occupied by Sir Henry Hobart.  Later Mary, Countess of Home extended the house. In 1645 it came to John Maitland, 1st Duke and 2nd Earl of Lauderdale (hence its name) as his wife Anne Home's inheritance. In 1666 it was visited by Charles II and Samuel Pepys, while Nell Gwyn is said to have lived there briefly in 1670. It was later the home of the Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Pritchard.

It was converted to a neoclassical style in 1760, and John Wesley preached here in 1782. For some time it was the home of James Yates, antiquary and Unitarian, who died there in 1871. The house became a convalescent home for St. Bartholomew's hospital in 1872.

The following text comes from Lauderdale House:Lauderdale's last private owner was Sir Sydney Waterlow, to whom it was something of a liability. He leased it for a time to St Bartholomew's Hospital as a convalescent home, but by 1883 the house lay empty. In 1889, Sir Sidney gave the house and grounds to the London County Council "for the enjoyment of Londoners", after which the 29 acres of land became a public park. The house was restored in 1893 to serve for 70 years as a Park tea-room and park-keepers' flats. Sadly, during the course of further renovation in 1963, a fire broke out, destroying the roof and much of the interior of the House.