After Ham House survived a period of seclusion and retrenchment under his reclusive father, Wilbraham Tollemache, 6th Earl of Dysart (1739-1821) sought to restore Ham House’s position as a locus of hospitality and cultivation. He returned much of the house and collection to its former seventeenth century splendour, as well as making his own mark through expanding both the estate and the collection.
David Garrick was regarded as the most iconic actor of the 18th century, and possibly the finest influence upon the English Theatre. In 1754, he purchased Hampton House (now Garrick’s Villa) which overlooks the river Thames. In the gardens he oversaw the design of a Temple built in the Classical style popularised by the Italian architect Palladio with an Ionic portico. This he dedicated to his muse Shakespeare, being the one playwright whose works he had performed with the greatest acclaim.
In 2021, Kew Palace staged an exhibition programme to re-explore the story of George III’s mental health through a contemporary lens, finding fresh perspectives and surprising common ground with the experience of many people today.
For Sir John Soane, Pitzhanger’s gardens were as important as the Manor, which he designed as a space for hospitality and entertainment centred around food. In his kitchen gardens, he grew a variety of herbs and vegetables, and he kept the lake stocked with fish not only to provide dinner but also an opportunity for social interaction.
The Kitchen Garden at Chiswick House and Gardens has been a productive space for almost 350 years. It has recently been restored from decades of neglect by an innovative, local team, committed to re-invigorating this atmospheric and story-rich space for the future.