Walk off the excesses of Christmas with a Heritage Walk from Richmond Green to Twickenham, looking at some of our Borough’s outstanding buildings and finest views
Start your walk through history at Richmond Theatre, which was designed by Frank Matcham and built in 1899. Go along the Green, passing the oldest buildings here on Old Palace Terrace and then, at the corner of King Street, one can see some fine early 18th century buildings, Oak House, Old Palace Place and Old Friars.
Turning right, you pass the gate to Richmond Palace, one of the few surviving parts of this great Tudor Palace, where Elizabeth I planned our defence to the Spanish Armada and died there in 1603. You then come to The Maids of Honour Row – generally regarded as the finest buildings on Richmond Green. They were built in 1717 and leased nine years later to George, Prince of Wales (the future George II) for his Ladies in Waiting.
Turn into Old Palace Lane, one of the oldest roads in Richmond which was originally an access route to Richmond Palace, where goods coming from London could be unloaded. In the 18th century, a row of workmen’s cottages were built here – surprisingly, with expensive Bath Stone – and then walk by Richmond’s earliest railway bridge, built in 1849 and renovated in 1908.
Turning left, you pass the beautiful 18th century villa, Asgill House, built by Sir Robert Taylor for Sir Charles Asgill, a Lord Mayor of London, as a summer house to entertain his friends. Walk on past Trumpeter’s House, so known, because of two stone trumpeters outside the house, which originally came from Richmond Palace. Going along Cholmondeley Walk, passing by Quinlan Terry’s Riverside Development, cross over Richmond Bridge, built by James Paine, onto the footpath and head up river.
From here, one has a fantastic view of Richmond Hill. Continuing, one can see Marble Hill House, standing out in white stucco, built in the Palladian villa style. On the other side of the river, one can just see the picturesque Ham House behind the trees, built in the 17th century. Just a little further on, one can see the recently renovated Octagon by James Gibbs and Orleans House Gallery, which was all that is left of the original house. If you keep walking, you’ll pass York House, now our Borough’s principal Council offices and end the Walk at St Mary’s Church in Twickenham, which was rebuilt in 1714 when the nave collapsed. There is a monument to Alexander Pope here.
Find more local history articles here.