A 17th century house set on the edge of Wimbledon Common will open its doors once more to the public this weekend.   

Southside House in Woodhayes Road is Wimbledon’s only historic house open to the public.

The Grade II listed mansion was home to Major Malcolm Munthe - a British spy during the war whose hidden weapons prompted a bomb scare in May 2011 when they were found in a hidden room at the house.

Excavations following a fire at the house in November 2010 uncovered a secret basement accessed through the dining room fire place.

Today the home is maintained by the Pennington-Mellor-Munthe Charity Trust and managed by its curator Richard Surman.

It remains in its traditional state without intrusive refurbishment and is packed with family possessions of centuries past.

In 2012 the home was used as the backdrop for the film The Invisible Woman starring Ralph Fiennes which tells the story of Charles Dickens and his mistress.

A small part of the house was turned into the Camden town house where Dickens and his mistress would frequent.

The house will once again open to the public this Easter weekend with guided tours available on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesdays and public holidays at 2, 3 and 4pm until the last Sunday in September.