I started working in property covering Chiswick in 2001. I soon discovered the joy and peace of Chiswick House and Gardens. Whenever a new buyer or renter to the area asks me for the highlights and benefits of the area, this destination is at the top of my list for famalies or pet owners.
Chiswick House and Gardens is a notable example of 18th-century British architecture and landscaped gardens, with a rich history spanning over 300 years. The House and Gardens were created by two Georgian trendsetters, William Kent and Richard Boyle, the third Earl of Burlington, between 1725 and about 1738. Inspired by their travels on the Grand Tour, they rejected the ostentatious, Baroque style in England and opted for a simpler, symmetrical design based on the classical architecture of Italy. They also revolutionized the early 18th-century garden by breaking down its rigid formality and creating a more natural-looking landscape. This innovative approach gave birth to the English Landscape Movement, which influenced gardens from Blenheim Palace to New York’s Central Park.
After the earl’s death in 1753, the estate was passed down to the Dukes of Devonshire by marriage, and the 5th and 6th Dukes subsequently remodeled Burlington’s gardens. From the 1860s onwards, the Devonshires leased the house, and gradually moved the historic contents to their main residence at Chatsworth House. The Tuke brothers converted Chiswick House into a mental health institution from 1892 to 1928, and were pioneers of talking therapies.
By the 20th century, the House and Gardens had fallen into decline, and in 1929 the estate was sold to Middlesex County Council. Ownership of the house passed to the Ministry of Works in 1948, which initiated a restoration campaign to return the villa to its original size and design, and the gardens to their original layout. In 2010, a major restoration project was completed with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the London Borough of Hounslow, and English Heritage Trust. The Chiswick House and Gardens Trust was subsequently established to unify the care of the House and Gardens.
Today, the House and Gardens welcome over one million visitors each year. The Trust’s vision is to provide access to the House and Gardens for everyone, every day. This wonderful green space has a lot to offer local Chiswick residents and visitors to the area.