J.M.W. Turner’s modest retreat, Sandycombe Lodge, near Twickenham, placed him close to an excellent source of food, the river Thames. Turner, who loved fishing, made the most of this, and captured some of the elements in his paintings.
The poet Alexander Pope was proud of his independence and of his social relations. Both a symbol and an embodiment of his beliefs, his villa and garden in Twickenham were built with the profits of his pen and provided a space where he could entertain his friends. His five-acre garden furnished much of the food that was served at his table; the local area provided much of the rest.
In 1818, when Queen Charlotte died at Kew Palace, the Clerk of the Royal Kitchens locked the doors and never came back. The spaces were used as residences and storage for the next two centuries until Historic Royal Palaces completed a restoration project in 2011.
Transformed from farmland into a Palladian estate in the 1660s, Georgian owners transformed Gunnersbury again with a new walled garden, fish pond and hothouses, while the 19th century estate raised livestock and produced spectacular fruits. Its early days as a public park saw land used for rearing sheep while today, after a fabulous regeneration, a dedicated volunteer team cares for an orchard and a community garden.
The site of Fulham Palace has been occupied for over 5,000 years, probably because of its location next to an important crossing of the Thames. From 704 AD to 1973 it was the home of the Bishop of London and is one of the oldest working estates in the country.