Skip to main content

A visit to Chiswick Gardens

When Saturday dawned sunny and (reasonably) warm I was determined to visit a park.  However it had to be somewhere that wasn't crowded (midterm break here right now...need I say more?) and a place I hadn't been to before.  Chiswick Gardens in west London fit both criteria.

It also had the bonus of not being that far.  Here in Streatham I am only a couple of station stops from Clapham Junction which will basically take me anywhere in the London area.  So off I went.  The gardens were only a short ten minute walk from the station.

There are 65 acres of Grade 1 listed gardens which were made into a public park in 1929 but originated in the 17th century. 

As I walked into the park this was my first sight...


The Obelisk


The Ionic Temple - one of the surviving 18th century buildings.


The Classic bridge


Exedra - a garden designed by William Kent to incorporate Lord Burlington's collection of ancient and 18th century sculptures.  In 1966 the Beatles filmed videos (called "promos" back then) of "Paperback Writer" and "Rain".  Ah you say...that's why she went there!



Inigo James Gateway - designed in 1621 and acquired by Lord Burlington in 1738.


Chiswick House - one of the earliest examples of neo-Palladian design in England. 



The Conservatory - unfortunately it was closed.  It is home to the oldest collections of camellias in Britain. 


 
 
Entrance to the walled kitchen garden - locked up.  I was more interested in it because the Beatles did the promos in here as well! :).
 
 
Cascade - designed by William Kent in 1736
 
While there is a cost to go into the house the park is free and well worth a visit. 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A walk along the coffin trail (and a couple of lakes) in the Lake District

While in the Lake District I wanted to do some light walking but not heavy duty hiking where I could easily get lost and my body not found for days partially eaten by hungry...sheep?  Anyway, you get the drift...not too grueling and safe for a solo walker.  I get a bit nervous when I am too far from civilization. There are lots of books about walking in the Lake District but they seem to be all about walking the fells in remote places...neither Thelma nor I fancied that.  While browsing in the post office/shop in Ambleside one day (if you are ever in Ambleside you must go there - a treasure!) I found a stand of walk descriptions on post cards.  And there I found my walk.  After all who could resist a stroll on the "coffin trail" in William Wordsworth country... I took a look and thought hmm...cafe along the route...that works for me. (with at least the security of knowing there was an available "loo" along the way.)  Okay, I may not have totally...

Peeing on fish or a fish out of water

Well this morning we headed off by boat to Siem Reap.  Due to the low water on the Tonie Sap Lake (more like a river until near the end of the trip when it widened considerably) the trip would be an 8 hour one... It was supposed to be boring but ended up as anything but...in no certain order...let's see.... We had a rest stop (turned out to be the only one) along the way and the loo was just a hole over the lake and there were fish circling around underneath.  Yes it was just a hole in the floor...you definitely had someone watch your stuff while you went in or one false move and your camera/purse or whatever would be in the lake.  The fish either like the warm pee coming in or they are pervs and like to see ladies parts.  We were just a few minutes out when all of a sudden there was something flying over me and jumping all over the floor - a little fish!  Guess he wanted to join the tour.  Roger reached down and scooped him up while I hooted and ...

Cowboys and Outlaws in the Big Muddy of Saskatchewan

One of the (very) few advantages of being stuck at home during this pandemic has been an opportunity to see more of my home province of Saskatchewan.  Last summer and fall not only did I do a couple of day trips with friends but I took four day tours with Engelheim transport, a local Regina company.   I have to admit my favourite day out was the "Big Muddy Valley and Outlaws" tour. While I had been to the Big Muddy previously many years back I was eager to revisit and learn more of its history.   So in early October, I hopped on board and off we went.  The bus is only booked to half capacity so it was easy to social distance, hand gel was a must each time we boarded the bus,  masks were required when you got on and off the bus and in any buildings we visited.  I felt totally safe and oh my, it was so good to have an adventure!!  Despite the name the Big Muddy isn't a big huge puddle of mud but a valley of badlands that were formed from a glac...