Chiswick House
A visit some months ago to Chiswick House
to see what changes have taken place since my last visit some years ago. I have
known the villa since the early 1960’s having been there with my father soon
after the restoration by the then Ministry of Public Buildings and Works (it’s now
in the care of English Heritage).
Major improvements have taken place
recently in the grounds and a new Café constructed – a modern design which I
quite like, using stone from one of the Portland shelly beds giving an
interesting textural look to the stone. A definite improvement on the original
municipal café that used to be there.
Chiswick House was built in the 1720’s by
Lord Burlington as a place to display his art collection and as a place for
entertainment and was never used as a residence. The design is based on the principals of Andrea
Palladio and is a fine example of ‘neo-Palladian’ Architecture, one of the best
in this country, with Architect William Kent collaborating with Burlington on
the design.
The landscaped grounds are dotted with
classical features, temples and obelisks dating from the period of Lord
Burlington and William Kent plus an orangery of 1813 still with its original
plantings of Camellias. The gardens are open throughout the year and the house
reopens in April 2013.
