The gardens and people of Twickenham Park'A talk for the Marble Hill Friends by Andrew George

Lying by the Thames to the west of London, between Richmond, Twickenham and Isleworth, is the ancient estate of Twickenham Park created by Richard of Cornwall, brother of Henry III. It was here that Syon Abbey was founded by Henry V. Later, Twickenham Park was a hub of political, social and intellectual activity. Francis Bacon wrote many of his massively influential essays here, and wanted Twickenham Park to be a place for the discovery of things from the light of nature. Instead, it became home to the colourful Lucy Harington, Countess of Bedford: patron of the arts and gardener la mode.
In the eighteenth century, Twickenham attracted the mercantile, intellectual and political class. Thomas Vernon planted the first English weeping willow. Nearby, Alexander Pope decorated his grotto, Henrietta Howard built her mansion and garden at Marble Hill and Horace Walpole created Strawberry Hill in the Gothic style. The nineteenth century saw a succession of wealthy owners who made gardens in the latest style, including the Earl of Kilmorey who built an Egyptian mausoleum for his young lover, Priscilla. This talk will discuss the gardens of Twickenham Park and some of the characters that produced them.Andrew George is a Professor of Immunology who has spent most of his career teaching and researching at Imperial College London. He has also been Deputy Vice Chancellor at Brunel University London. He currently is chair of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and the Health Innovation Network for South London. He coaches senior leaders in both the private and public sector. He was awarded an MBE for his contribution to research ethics in 2017. He has lived in Richmond and St Margarets for 33 years, and had a deep interest in the place where he lives. He has published two booklets on the Earl of Kilmorey and his mausoleum and a book on the Gardens and People of Twickenham Park.